On Sunday, members of the community apprehended a suspected gunman said to be terrorising the area at Nkw ga market in Uga Community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to reports, the hoodlums stormed the area in a bus and began shooting sporadically to disperse the crowd.
The hoodlums were said to have stolen motorcycles from commercial motorcyclists at the market in order to expand their operations.
According to a local source, the youths went out to confront the hoodlums, who immediately fled with the stolen motorcycles, leaving the bus driver behind.
The bus driver was trapped as the youths immediately used iron barricades to block the road and then apprehended him as he alighted from the vehicle and attempted to escape into a nearby bush.
A video from the scene currently trending on social media showed the hoodlum surrounded by the villagers, with one of his legs almost cut off with a machete, while stains of blood were all over his body.
It was learnt that the mob nearly set him ablaze immediately but was advised to interrogate him rather than kill him, as he had already received adequate beating.
During the interrogation, the suspect said he hails from a community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The community stripped the suspect naked with assorted charms tied around his waist and chest.
Reacting to the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime, commended the people for their support and cooperation in fighting crime in the state.
He, however, urged them always to hand over any suspect caught to the law enforcement agencies for adequate investigation and prosecution, rather than resorting to jungle justice.
He also reassured the community that the government would not relent in its fight against crimes and insecurity in Anambra.
When contacted for his reaction, the state police spokesperson, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, promised to get back.