A yet-to-be-identified mechanic had a narrow escape from a mob attack on Monday after he was caught attempting to steal vehicle spart parts at the Jemi Alade Estate, along the Isheri-Igando area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a resident confronted the suspect after he was seen leaning on one of the vehicles in the estate around 9 am.
The resident later raised the alarm which led to the suspect being apprehended, and a mob threatening to lynch him.
One of the residents, Timothy Ajibade, told PUNCH Metro that the suspect identified himself as a mechanic but could not prove it.
“We saw him loitering around in the morning but did not notice that he was up to something. He was later seen leaning on a vehicle and that was when we became suspicious. When we approached him, we saw him holding some tools while he identified himself as a mechanic who came to work for someone in the estate. But when asked who he came to work for, he could not answer.”
The residents immediately descended on him and started to use various objects on him, causing him to bleed. He was also dragged outside while the residents repeatedly slapped him.
Another resident who refused to disclose his identity explained why he was treated in such a manner, lamenting the incidences of theft in the estate.
He said, “We battled with many cases of robbery and theft in our estate and people are angry about this. There are times when vehicles parked overnight will be vandalised before morning. We have also experienced cases where they use bikes to steal our valuables. That is why we have been as vigilant as possible and why we challenged and treated him the way we did.”
Efforts by officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps to rescue the suspect were met with stiff resistance by the mob as they continually beat him and also stripped him naked in the process.
Meanwhile, the leader of the mechanic association in the community when invited to identify him confirmed that he was once an apprentice in a certain workshop but stopped coming a long time ago.
The leader identified simply as Alhaji said, “I was surprised when they called me on the phone that a robber was caught and that he identified himself as a mechanic who knew me. That was why I had to rush down here before I discovered that it was one of the boys who came for an apprenticeship but did not stay long.”
The suspect was later handed to the association who took him away from the spot.
Attempts to reach the Lagos police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, provided abortive as his number did not connect.
