Two armed robbers who had been terrorizing the Atim Edem Rise and Efio Okoho neighborhoods in Calabar South LGA, Cross River State, met a violent end at the hands of outraged youths yesterday. The identities of the suspects have not yet been disclosed.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that both men lived in the same neighborhoods. One witness, Reuben Akabom, reported that during the early hours of Tuesday, a man, believed to be under 35, was caught trying to break into a home in Efio Okoho.
Residents, fed up with his ongoing criminal activities, overpowered him. “He was dragged to the junction in front of a private hotel in Efio Okoho. The crowd brutally beat him, and they brought condemned tires, reportedly setting him on fire,” Akabom said.
Our reporter arrived as his charred remains were being removed for burial at an undisclosed location.
Another incident took place on Saturday on Atim Edem Rise Street, close to Ibesikpo Road. The second suspect was also known for frequently robbing and intimidating local residents.
Inyang Ekpenyong, a youth leader, explained that when this robber was caught, the community used the same machete he had brandished during his crimes to attack him.
Armed robbery has reportedly surged in Calabar South in recent times. On Sunday, Obong Ete, a landlord on Waddel Lane near Mbukpa Road known for stealing from his tenants and neighbors, was apprehended and publicly flogged by his tenants.
In response, Irene Ugbo, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, cautioned against jungle justice, urging that all suspects should be turned over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution.
