By Jonathan Ugbal
Armed robbery and other petty thievery now constitute a major security issue that has continuously caused insecurity in Nigeria and globally.
Obudu Local. Government Area northern Cross River State is not left out of this nuisance that seems to be on the increase since the turn of the year.
Nemesis caught up with one of such petty thief on Thursday morning as he was chased down by the owner of the items he had successfully carted away the previous night along Ukwel-obudu road in the Abonkib area of Obudu main town.
The culprit whom CrossRiverWatch gathered is a neighbour of his victim was terribly beaten by members of the community and hunged with ropes from the ceiling of a building in one of the community playgrounds.
The victim whose wares were stolen, Sunday Agiende, who is a driver with a telecommunications company operating in Obudu while speaking with CrossRiverWatch narrated his ordeal expressing his anger that he had become a victim to someone he saw as a “friendly neighbour”.
“On Tuesday night my dog barked most of the night, I woke up but did not step out of the house, when I heard my neighbour’s dog bark also I thought to myself someone must be passing by only to wake up yesterday morning and discover my kitchen has been raided by thieves with 15 tubers of yams, about 28 pieces of large onions, pots and baskets stolen. I kept mute that morning till after work when I told my neighbours.
“Yesterday been Wednesday the same thing happened, I got out with a torch and pointed at the direction of my kitchen and the thief ran, I pursued him and despite falling several times on the way, I was determined to catch him and his accomplices. I finally pounced on him in a ditch just up the street and shouted for help. This happened around 3 am in the morning, when the community came out they rang the bell and have been torturing him since then to provide his accomplice.” he said pointing at the injuries he sustained during the chase.
The culprit whose name was simply given as Ugbakong after enduring hours of torture finally gave the name of his accomplice as Mike who is also a neighbour as well as narrating the modus operandi used in the operation.
“Mike saw the yams and we planned how to steal them which we successfully did on the first day” he said. When asked why he came back he answered “My necklace fell off my neck so I came looking for it”. He further explained the reason why he wore only boxer shorts saying “it will be easier to grab my shirt if chased but with only boxers, you will find it difficult”.
The victim who earlier said he was not reporting the matter to the police later rescinded his decision after been convinced by a few people.
As at press time, CrossRiverWatch could not get viable information regarding investigations and prosecution as officers on duty declined comment.