A 45 - year - old man , Yusuf Ibrahim , has lost his life in jungle justice after a mob lynched him over a car battery allegedly stolen at Nato Park , Tin Can Island , Apapa, Lagos .


It was later discovered that the battery was found with one Yusuf Yahaya , who works around Tin Can First Gate – some distance from the park .


Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened on Monday , January 7 , 2019 , around 7 . 30 am .


The victim was said to be one of the destitute people who sometimes passed the night on the premises, where trucks are parked .


It was gathered that when one of the truck drivers resumed duty that morning , he discovered that the battery of his vehicle was missing .


He raised the alarm and a search party was formed to fish out the perpetrator .


A commercial motorcyclist ( popularly known as okada rider ) in the area , who identified himself only as Salisu , told Saturday PUNCH that some drivers suspected Ibrahim and accosted him .


He said , “ I was on my motorcycle , coming from Liverpool , Apapa that morning when I saw a crowd at the park . I moved closer and saw a man ( Ibrahim) covered in blood . He had been beaten to a pulp. I asked people what happened and they told me he stole the battery of a truck .


“ The man had lost his strength and he was almost dead . Passersby were afraid to take him to a hospital . I later left the scene for fear of being implicated. ”


Salisu said about 30 minutes later , he went back to the scene and was told that some policemen had come to remove Ibrahim’ s corpse.


He said sadness overwhelmed him when he learnt that the battery was found with somebody else.


“ It was discovered that the battery was actually stolen by a young man called Yahaya . I learnt he worked around Tin Can First Gate , ” the okada rider added.


Another eyewitness , who identified himself as Danladi , said entreaties by some people to stop the mob from lynching Ibrahim were rebuffed .


He said the mob dispersed the scene upon noticing that the victim was dying , adding that some suspects had been arrested by the police .


“ It was very unfortunate that the man was killed for a crime he did not commit. Even if he had stolen the battery , I don ’ t see why they should beat him up . I used to see him around the park , but I don ’ t know where he lived . The police should bring his killers to justice, ” the eyewitness said .


The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Chike Oti , while confirming the incident said six suspects , including Yahaya , had been arrested .


Oti stated that the command frowned on mob justice and urged people to desist from the dastardly act .


He said , “On Monday , around 7 . 30 am , we received information that one Yusuf Ibrahim , aged 45 , of Nato Park , Tin Can Island , Apapa, was allegedly beaten to death by some drivers at the aforesaid address .


“ A team of detectives was swiftly dispatched to the scene upon receiving the distress call . It was found out that the deceased was wrongly alleged to have stolen a truck battery , which was later found with one Yusuf Yahaya . The victim ’ s corpse has been evacuated to the Apapa General Hospital morgue for autopsy . However , the said Yusuf Yahaya and five other suspects that carried out the jungle justice on the deceased have been arrested . ”


The PPRO said the state Commissioner of Police , Edgal Imohimi , had directed that the case be transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department , Yaba , for thorough investigation .


“ The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded , ” he added.

Simpl2 wrote:You see. Thats the problem with jungle justice.

AK Horsfall wrote:They acted without due investigation

Simpl2 wrote:

AK Horsfall wrote:They acted without due investigation

They are not even supposed to act other than call the po-po!