Mob Burns Alleged Motorcycle Thief in Ogun; See Numbers Injured
In Ilishan Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, a suspected motorcycle thief was burned to death by an angry mob, while another individual was severely stabbed. The situation was brought under control only after intervention by the police and soldiers from the 35 Artillery Brigade.
The altercation began when a group of Hausa residents demanded the execution of a man they believed to be a military officer involved in a recent theft of a motorcycle. According to reports, one suspect was beaten and set on fire, while another, dressed in an army uniform, fled and took refuge in a nearby building after being stabbed.
Eyewitnesses attribute the violence to a series of recent motorcycle thefts targeting the Hausa community, which has heightened tensions. Despite pleas from community leaders and initial police efforts, the mob’s demands for vigilante justice persisted.
Later, a detachment of soldiers arrived and fired warning shots to disperse the crowd, leading to a chaotic scene where residents sought safety. The Sagamu Area Command of the Nigeria Police had earlier deployed an armored vehicle to manage the situation.
Otunba Wemmy Osude, Chairman of the Ilisan Development Association, confirmed the incident, noting that the mob’s anger was fueled by a series of recent thefts. He reported that over 200 people gathered near the Ilisan Community Hospital, where they continued to demand the suspect’s release even after the army’s intervention.
During the rescue operation, soldiers faced a hostile crowd that threw stones and damaged vehicles. The army responded with tear gas to restore order.
Captain Idereghi Akari of the 35 Artillery Brigade confirmed the incident but clarified that the man in the army uniform was not a soldier and denied that the deceased was a military personnel.
