A member of a five-man robbery gang, identified as Chidozie, was yesterday lynched by a mob at Iyang Edem by Mount Zion in Calabar for stealing mobile phones.
It was gathered that Chidozie and his gang members allegedly visited Atu Secondary School, where they attacked a teacher and dispossessed her of valuables, including her phones.
An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, said that the gang did not know that the people in the neighbourhood had been trailing them as they had been terrorising the area for quite some time.
His words: “He was unfortunate, because the others escaped. Due to the spate of armed robberies in our area, they did not spare him because he refused to accept that the phone was with him. They beat him to death and then set him ablaze.”
Another resident of the area, who did not want her name in print, said they were happy that he was killed on the spot, adding “that boy and his gang have been disturbing this area for a long time; they snatch bags and rob shops in the evenings.
“He was so unfortunate to have taken this route after they robbed somewhere else. We are glad that they got him today.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officers, Irene Ugbo, said she was not aware of the incident, but promised to call back. Meanwhile, Chidozie’s remains were still by the road side at press time.