An angry mob has killed a suspected motorcycle thief in the Ajaka area of Oke Igbo community, Sagamu Local Government Area, Ogun State, while another suspect was critically injured.
The suspects, John Udoh and Peter Ubong, were reportedly part of a five-man gang that invaded the community around 2:00 am and attacked Emeka Reuben, stealing his motorcycle worth N1.2 million.
Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, stated on Friday that Reuben alerted the local youths, who confronted and apprehended the two suspects.
“The two suspects were said to have been given severe beating leading to the death of one of them as confirmed by a doctor at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu while the second suspect Peter Ubong who was said to be in critical condition, has been hospitalised,” she said.
“Three other members of the gang, Adaka, Stephen, and Jeresy were said to have made away with the stolen motorcycle.”
The duo of John and Peter were also said to have confessed to being part of the group responsible for the theft of 15 solar streetlights previously stolen from the community as well as two other motorcycles.
They were equally alleged to have provided the names of their accomplices involved in the crime in Ajaka, a part of the Sagamu division, and admitted to committing other burglaries in the Sagamu area.
“On October 18, 2024, at about 7:20hrs the Community Development Association Chairman of the Atayo Okeigbo community, Aruba Sagamu, Ogun State, reported via phone that a group of thieves invaded the community around 2:00 am. They broke into the home of one Emeka Ruben stealing his Lifan rubber motorbike valued at 1.2 million naira (#1,200,000.00)”
“Upon hearing his cries for help, at midnight, several youths intervened, by moving into the victim’s residence, apprehending one Peter Ubong, a 22-year-old from Cross River, and John Udoh, along with their operational motorcycle with registration number SGM 387 WB.
“Meanwhile, three others, named Adaka Stephen, and Jerssy, managed to flee with the stolen motorcycle. The arrested duo confessed that they were part of a five-member group responsible for the theft of fifteen solar streetlights previously stolen from the community, as well as two other motorcycles.
“They provided the names of their accomplices involved in the crime in Ajaka, a part of the Sagamu division, and admitted to committing other burglaries in the Sagamu area.
“Both divisions are collaborating to ensure the apprehension of the named suspects. Unfortunately, the suspects were beaten severely by the mob, with one, John Udoh, being declared dead by doctors at the Ogun State-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, where his body was subsequently deposited in the hospital morgue. Peter Ubong is hospitalized, in critical condition.
She added that investigations are underway to track down the remaining suspects and recover the stolen motorcycle.