The Nigeria Police in Lokoja said 9 members of the local vigilante have been arrested for their involvement in torturing a suspected thief to death. The incident happened on Monday at Ofabo and Egbabenebe community in Ofu Local Government area of the state.
Spokesman of the Nigeria Police, Kogi Statement command, DSP Williams Aya, who confirmed the arrests, told newsmen on Tuesday that the victim was tortured to death on Monday. Aya revealed those arrested to be the head of the vigilante service and his second-in-command, and seven others. He explained that the suspect died after an Igbo businessman in the community accused the deceased of stealing items worth N200, 000 from his shop and was reported to the members of the local vigilante. According to the Police, members of the vigilante meted jungle justice on the suspect by torturing him with a hammer and other items in order to get information and he died in the process. Meanwhile, the complainant was said to have told the head of the vigilante who was as identified as Mr. Simon Onoja that the deceased stole goods worth N200,000 from his shop.
The Police further explained that, “Simeon Onoja, his second in command, Mr. Sunday Idajili have built their own cell where they detain suspects. “Suspects would have to also bail themselves with amount of money that depends on the gravity of their offences”, the Police maintained. CAPITAL POST reports on Tuesday that crisis erupted over a torture to death of a suspected thief.
