Three Suspected Motorbike Thieves Ablaze In One Week

Hon. Barrister Victor Ebonka and Evang. Sunny Tataobuzuogwu, the chairmen of the Ika North East and Ika South Local Government Areas in Delta State, have both denounced the recent lynchings of three suspected motorbike thieves.

According to reports, enraged villagers of Agbor and Boji-Boji Owa have killed suspects who have reportedly been captured stealing motorcycles extrajudicially.

When interviewed by journalists, some locals expressed their lack of trust in the police to handle such cases because people arrested for stealing motorcycles frequently escape punishment. They claimed that burning the thieves alive serves them well and that no one should feel sorry for them.

They continued by saying that some motorbike theft victims suffer either physical or fatal injuries.

A suspected motorbike thief was previously burned alive on Saturday, July 22, 2023, near Imudia Street before Arimokwu Street in Agbor following an unsuccessful motorcycle theft attempt.

Onuwa Lucky Alabi, a suspect who was born in Idumu-ebor and raised in Owa-Alero, was captured and set ablaze on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at Agbor along the New Benin/Asaba Expressway.

According to sources, Odinga, an Idumuesah native who resides in Owa-Alero, was Onuwa’s accomplice. Onuwa had reportedly been on the run for motorbike theft until his luck ran out when he encountered the owner of the motorcycle who demanded his motorcycle.

An outraged mob beat the reputedly notorious Onuwa to a pulp before setting him ablaze.

On Saturday, July 29, 2023, at around 11 p.m., in Ika North East Local Government, an anonymous accused motorcycle thief was burned alive in the third occurrence of jungle justice that has been documented. This incident took place close to Owa-Alero General Hospital.

The council chairmen asserted that Ika people are not known for resorting to murder as a form of retribution for crime, calling the behaviour savage and contrary to the rules governing our beloved country. They both urged locals to refrain from committing mob violence.

“We are sad over the incessant motorcycle theft in Ika nation because we understand the enduring pains victims pass through especially now that prices of motorcycles have gone up,” they said.

“We are appealing to our youths to refrain from taking laws into their hands by not killing suspects apprehended for crime in such a dehumanizing and unlawful manner. We warn that anyone caught in the act of jungle justice will be made to face the wrath of the law.”

Both chairmen took advantage of the occasion to urge young people who have turned to crime as a source of income to repent and join one of the government-sponsored programs for skill development so they may effectively participate in society.