Vigilante Group Kills Man Over Missing Phone Later Discovered with Owner’s Child
In Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, a 29-year-old man named Joe Philip, also known as Aboy, was tragically beaten to death by members of the Anioma Security Watch Network on Sunday, June 16, 2024. The incident occurred on Father’s Day after Philip was accused of stealing a Nokia touch light phone.
An eyewitness told an Ika news portal that Philip had just returned from church and was resting at home after turning on his generator. An elderly woman living in the same compound asked to charge her phone in his room. While Philip was napping, the woman’s son entered his room and took the phone without Philip’s knowledge. When the woman later returned to retrieve her phone and couldn’t find it, Philip expressed his concern and offered to replace it. However, the woman insisted on getting her exact phone back and threatened severe consequences.
Rejecting Philip’s offer of a replacement, the woman summoned the local vigilante group, Anioma Security Watch Network. Upon arrival, the group demanded the phone from Philip and began to beat him when he couldn’t produce it. Despite pleas from onlookers, the vigilantes continued their assault until they realized that Philip had become unresponsive.
The group then transported Philip’s motionless body to their office at 17 Gbenoba Street, Agbor. The situation escalated as a mob began damaging the security group’s patrol vehicle. The intervention of the Nigerian Police Force and the military eventually calmed the scene. Philip’s body was later taken to Agbor Central Hospital mortuary by police officers, accompanied by his relatives and friends.
Hours after the incident, the missing Nokia touch light phone was discovered with the woman’s son. He explained that he had taken the phone from Philip’s room to avoid waking him up.
In an interview, Philip’s grieving father recounted how he had pleaded with the woman to accept a replacement phone, but she refused.
“I begged her to let us replace the phone, but she insisted it had to be her exact one, or she would take drastic action,” he said.
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