Angry mob beat car thief to death at funeral in Anambra

An angry youths, on thursday evening beat to death a yet to be identified middle age man for stealing a Honda CRV car at a burial ceremony in Ukpor, Nnewi South local government area of Anambra State.

Tribune Online gathered that the owner of the vehicle, Mr Ifeanyi Obiaku, had parked the vehicle but later saw it being driven out by an unknown person, prompting him to raise alarm.

His alarm called the attention of guests at the ceremony, who quickly blocked the suspect from leaving with the car, while descending on him.

ALSO READ: Twin brothers found dead inside freezer in Anambra

It was learnt that the suspect was beaten by the mob, and dumped in a corner, where he was later picked by police officers from Ukpor division who had rushed to the scene upon hearing of the incident.

Luck however ran out on him as he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor upon arrival at the hospital.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed confirmed the incident, saying that, “At about 18:20hrs, one Ifeanyi Obiaku, male of Nnewi town reported at Ukpor police division that he went for a burial ceremony at umudike village Ukpor and parked his Honda CRV jeep, milk in colour with reg. no KJA -224-BJ, all a sudden he sighted unknown person reasonably suspected to be a thief moving out of the venue with his car at about 17:15 hrs of same date.

“Complainant raised alarm which attracted area boys numbering over a hundred who descended on the suspect instantly and beat him to a state of coma.

“Meanwhile, police patrol team attached to Ukpor division visited the scene and rushed the suspect to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi for medical attention but he was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor and corpse deposited in the mortuary.”

Mohammed said the identity of the deceased was yet to be ascertained, while the stolen vehicle and a fabricated master key were recovered as exhibits, while the case was under investigation.

He condemned the actions of the irate mob, saying it was wrong for them to have taken the laws into their hands, adding that the command was determined to fish out perpetrators of the incident in order to bring them to book to face their action.