In Kogi, Two Killed, One Set Ablaze over Stolen Mobile Phone

By Izunna Okafor

At least two people reportedly lost their lives to jungle justice, and panic ignited at Felele, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital over mobile phone theft.

According to eyewitnesses, the whole drama started when a suspected thief snatched a mobile phone from a passer-by and sneaked into a shop. And angry mob then chased after him. 

However, on getting to the shop,
the shop owner was mistaken to be the thief and was killed by the mob, while the suspect escaped untouched.

Now fuming in anger, sympathisers of the murdered shop owner identified one of his alleged killers, and instantly beat him to death, in a reprisal attack. They did not stop; they also and set his corpse ablaze immediately, while some people also sustained various degrees of injuries in the course of their attack.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kogi Police Command, DSP Williams Aya said the Command received a distress call from Felele in the morning about the case, and on arrival at the scene, discovered two dead bodies said to have been killed in a clash, with one already on fire.

He explained that the victims, late Salisu Ado and Muhammad Mukaila were alleged to have been engaged in a fight over a yet-to-be ascertained cause, leading to their death.

He said Muhammed Mukaila was alleged to have stabbed Salisu Ado to death, prompting a reprisal attack by his relations and sympathisers who equally killed Mukaila and set his corpse ablaze.

DSP Aya said, two suspects Muhammed Mubarak and Suleiman Yakubu all believed to be members of the Aro Barger cult have been arrested in connection with the killings.

He further revealed that the investigations into the matter has commenced as the state Commissioner of Police has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department.