From Divine Macaulay, in Kaduna
The prompt intervention of Army personnel attached to Operation Strike Force based in Kakuri, Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Thursday, rescued an alleged robbery suspect from jungle justice after dispossessing the man of his cell phone at Kurmi Gwari.
The rescue came after aggrieved youths of the community apprehended the suspect and gave him the beating of his life.
However, the arrival of the military team prevented the aggrieved residents from inflicting jungle justice on the suspect.
Some residents of the area who claimed to have been victims of the suspect and his gang’s alleged nefarious acts told Citizenship correspondent that they were in the compound relaxing at night when they got interrupted between the hours of 9-10pm by the movement of the mob in the course of chasing the suspects.
The suspect was beaten almost to death after he had been caught in the act based on the people’s accumulated anger, as revealed.
A resident of the area, Mama Jason, said, “On that night, immediately I heard the aggressive cry for help outside the house, my husband and other residents quickly ran out to chase after the suspects, but eventually they nabbed one of the fleeing suspects.
“There were three who came; one had a gun with him, two escaped, they attacked a resident, broke his head, and made away with his handset .”
Another resident of the area, Mr Raymond Idonigie, said that before the incident, many residents of Kurmi Gwari had, in one way or another, been robbed even in broad daylight by “snatching” and other related acts allegedly caused by these suspects.
“The people’s attention was drawn by the alarm raised by a victim. Immediately, he was given a hot chase by the men; the majority of them were youths. Eventually, they caught them and gave him a serious beating.”
Residents further disclosed that it seemed the gang operated with charms to prevent them from being caught during their illegal operations.
However, the reverse was the case as eyewitnesses said the suspect was disappointed by all his strategies, including his charms, following the determination of some residents who swore to deal with him decisively whenever they were caught.
At the time of writing this report, the suspect, whose identity remains unknown, is being held in custody by the Kakuri Military Strike Force.
