A suspected burglar, whose name was not immediately available was on Sunday, October 26, 2014 left almost dead after he was macheted by an angry mob after he – along with three others now at large – caught trying to steal wine and other alcoholic beverages from a shop on Goldie street in Calabar, the capital of Cross River state.
According to Punch, an eyewitness, Johnbosco said the gang had gained entry into the shop around 5 am but were seen by someone who subsequently raised an alarm, leading to the capture of the suspect.
Johnbosco said: “Someone noticed when the burglars broke the iron bars on the door of the shop and he informed the owner on the phone that his shop was being burgled. The man mobilised some of his friends and neighbours and they came out with machetes and sticks.
“When they approached the shop, three others managed to escape leaving one of them who was right inside loading wine bottles into a carton. They descended on him and inflicted severe machete cuts on him and dragged him to the other side of the road which borders Holy Child School and dumped him there.”
Hogan Bassey, the Cross River state police public relations officer who confirmed the incident, commending the effort by the public in apprehending the suspected burglar, although he condemned their attempt to kill him.
Bassey said: “The facts are correct. Wine and other stolen items were recovered from the suspect who is responding to treatment at the hospital. We have not verified his name.
“We appreciate members of the public for their cooperation but we do not encourage them to beat suspects to a coma as it will impede the process of investigation.”
