Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
A suspected kidnapper, last Saturday, fell into the hands of angry residents when he attempted to kidnap a boy in Ekiti State.
The middle aged man was beaten to death by residents of Omuo-Ekiti, in Ekiti East Local Government Area of the state.
The incident reportedly occurred at Iludofin area of Omuo community, where the deceased was caught in an attempt to kidnap a 7-year-old boy and was apprehended by angry youths.
An eyewitness revealed that the incident happened around 2.30p.m.
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The source disclosed that a man, who sighted the deceased suspect had raised an alarm as he grabbed the boy and forcefully dragging him into the surrounding bush.
The residents were said to have trooped out en masse and pounced on the suspect and beat him until he fell into coma.
“The suspect was trailing the boy home from school. When he realised that he had reached a bushy footpath, he pounced on him and started dragging him into the bush.
“It was a man who was looking from afar that raised an alarm and the people caught him in the act and beat him to stupor.
“It was later that the police arrived and took him to the station with the aim of taking him to the hospital for treatment.”
While confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, said the man died immediately he got to the police station.
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Abutu said it was one of the Chiefs at Iludofin quarters that reported the case to the police, which he said they acted upon promptly.
“When we got the information, the police rushed to the scene of the incident, but the man had already gone into coma.
“The mob action was very thick, but the police tried and rescued him and the intention was to first take him to the station for cover before rushing him to the hospital for medical attention. Unfortunately, he died in the station as a result of the beating.”
Abutu said the suspect’s corpse had been deposited in the morgue at the Omuo Ekiti General Hospital, while investigation into the matter continues.
The police spokesman, however, cautioned against jungle justice, advising that any suspect arrested should be handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
