Edith CHUKU
The Cross River State Police command has warned natives and residents of the state against taking the law into their hands.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Eitokpah Sunday, gave this warning while confirming an incident that happened on Tuesday, where a mob burnt a young man to death.
The yet to be identified victim was burnt alive over alleged vandalization of electricity transformer in Calabar.
The jungle Justice which happened at Palm Street near Target Junction, is the second time of such incident within a month in same area.
The first occured on February 10, where an unidentified man was set ablaze over a similar accusation.
Speaking on the recent incident, the police spokesperson explained that, “upon receiving the information, a police patrol team swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the burnt corpse was found in front of the transformer.
“Items recovered at the scene include an old-model electricity meter box, a piece of copper wire, and electric cables, suspected to be vandalised materials.
“Local government authorities and the environmental health services were contacted to evacuate the body.”
Sunday stressed that, “Mob action or jungle justice is illegal and unacceptable. Members of the public are strongly advised to hand over suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution.”
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses claimed that “members of a local vigilante group joined the mob that apprehended the suspect and burnt him before police arrived.
