A man who went with two others to steal the water pump at the Primary Health Care Centre, Gbatse, in Ushongo Local Government Area was caught and set ablaze by an angry mob.

He died on the spot while his two companions escaped.

Narrating the incident, Mr. Adanyi Gbatse, a youth leader, stated that the suspects gained entrance into the fenced area where the pump had been installed by cutting the barbed wire.

He said at midnight, vigilant neighbors who usually kept an eye on the place as a result of its importance to the community heard noise of movement within the premises of the motorized borehole.

Mr. Gbatse stated that when some of the residents got closer and beamed their torchlights they saw that the men were in the process of removing the water pump from its position and raised alarm which attracted the attention of more neighbors who rushed to the scene.

The youth leader said one of the suspects was apprehended when he tried to start the motorcycle they had brought to use to facilitate their escape but it failed to start.

The eyewitness said during interrogation the suspect who could only speak Hausa refused to give information about who he was and where he came from but rather became violent and started a fight which resulted in his being lynched and burnt.

District Head of Mbayegh, Chief Nathaniel Hoyo, confirmed the incident and stated that the rural Divisional Police Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Emmanuel Igwe, informed him about the development.

He stated that if he had received the information earlier he could have intervened to prevent the administering of jungle justice but commended the residents on their vigilance urging others to emulate them by guarding facilities and infrastructure in their communities.

ASP Igwe stated that the Chairman of the Civilian Joint Task Force in the area, Mr. Terhemen Kpelayongo reported the matter to the police adding that the suspect was lynched before the police arrived at the scene.

He said the recovered items which included a motorcycle, a hammer, two spanners and an iron road have been sent to the Divisional Headquarters in Lessel for onward forwarding to the Zonal Office at Gboko for further investigation.

At the time of filling the report, the body of the suspect was still at the place where he was burnt.

The project which was attacked is one recently completed under the partnership between the MDG/SDG and the Benue State Government under Governor Samuel Ortom.

Source , http://www.viviangist.com/full-story-man-burnt-to-death-while-trying-to-steal-water-pump-in-benue-state

Cc; lalasticlala