Angry residents of Omuo Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti East government area of Ekiti State, have allegedly beaten to death, a man accused of attempting to kidnap a boy within the area.
The police command within the state has since confirmed the incident, warning residents of the state against taking laws into their hands by illegally applying jungle justice on suspects.
According to local sources, the incident occurred at Iludofin area of Omuo Ekiti on Saturday.
It was alleged that the deceased attempted to kidnap a seven-year-old boy and was caught within the act by angry youth within the area.
The sources added that the incident occurred jiffy after 2.00 pm when the pupils were coming back from a faculty programme.
It was further learnt that a person , who saw the suspect grab the boy and forcefully dragged him into a close-by bush, raised the alarm.
Following his alarm, many of the residents, mostly youth, started trooping to the scene and pounced on the suspect and beat him into a coma.
“The suspect was trailing the boy home from school. When he realised that he had reached a bushy footpath, he pounced on him and began dragging him into the bush,” according locals.
“But a person who was looking from afar raised an alarm and therefore the people caught him within the act and beat him.”
The police command in Ekiti state, while confirming the incident, affirmed that the deceased was beating to the purpose of death by the residents.
Police PR Officer (PPRO) within the Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, said the person died immediately he need to the police headquarters .
Abutu said it had been one among the Chiefs at Iludofin quarters that reported the case to the police, and his men acted promptly.
The PPRO said “The mob action was very thick, but the police tried and rescued him and therefore the intention was to first take him to the station for canopy before rushing him to the hospital for medical attention.
“Unfortunately, he died within the station as a results of the severe beating,” the PPRO said.
He said the corpse of the deceased had since been deposited within the morgue at the overall Hospital, Omui Ekiti, while investigation into the matter had commenced.
He cautioned people of the state against taking the laws into their hands and embarking on acts of jungle justice, saying every suspect is presumed innocent until found guilty.
The command also advised that any suspect henceforth arrested should be handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution, instead of applying penalty by themselves.
