A suspected kidnapper met his end on Monday in Ogale, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, as an enraged mob took justice into their own hands. The suspect, popularly known as “Officer,” was lynched after allegedly abducting a 9-year-old boy named David the day before.
According to The Trumpet’s findings, the suspect was spotted by the mother of the abducted boy while walking along the road. Witnesses who saw “Officer” luring David away the previous day had described his appearance to the distraught mother.
The mother confronted the suspect, demanding to know her son’s whereabouts. The kidnapper claimed David had returned home, and upon reaching her house with the suspect, she found her son safe but visibly shaken.
David narrated how the kidnapper approached him and his friend on Sunday after church, asking his friend to wait while he accompanied David to “buy something.” The boy explained that the man took him to a barbershop, gave him a haircut, and bought him new clothes.
Later, the suspect took David to a woman’s house, where he was fed bread and tea at night. The following morning, David pleaded to be sent home, explaining he had an exam at school. The woman eventually gave him N1,000 and arranged a bike ride back to his house.
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Upon his apprehension, the suspect reportedly confessed to being a serial kidnapper who targeted minors for sale. Enraged residents stripped him naked, ransacked his house, and set his belongings ablaze. The torture proved fatal as the suspect succumbed to his injuries before authorities could intervene.
This incident has sparked mixed reactions across the community, with residents expressing frustration over increasing cases of child abduction. Many have called for stricter security measures and improved law enforcement to prevent future occurrences.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement, but the incident underscores the rising trend of mob justice in the face of perceived ineffectiveness of the justice system.
