By Gabriel Elozino
A young boy has been beaten to death for allegedly stealing an android phone in Ighwrovie Community in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Locals say the young man, simply identified as ‘Fine Boy’ was killed by a mob following his failure to own up to the crime despite ‘concrete’ evidence against him.
A source who does not want his name in print told The Trumpet that the victim stole the phone and hid it not knowing he was already discovered by the owner who raised the alarm by shouting “thief ooh thief ooh” which attracted the mob.
He said, “when they caught him, he was denying because by then he has hid the phone inside some blocks that were arranged close to where he stole the phone.
“Instead of saying the truth, he took them to the completed building where he stays with his friends, by he time they got there, they caught one while the others fled.
What really angered the people was that, this same boy had been caught before and beaten and they let him go.
“But this time he was claiming to be innocent. It was after much beating, when he was at the point of death, that he confessed that he stole the phone and told them where he hid it, inside the blocks. When they searched the place, they saw the phone but by then he had already collapsed and died.
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The friend was beaten but was later left alone because he was not part of the operation.
He too is in critical condition in the hospital.” The source further applauded the actions of the mob, saying they no longer sleep comfortably due to the activities of criminals in the area. He added that, “we cannot enjoy breeze even when everywhere is hot because we have to close our windows otherwise before you wake up, something must miss from your house.
Many houses have been burgled, especially on Sundays when the occupants go to church. So to me it serves them right. If they are treating them like this, criminality will reduce drastically.” The source revealed that the corpse of the victim was later taken away by men of the police force.
