Police in Sapele, Delta State have arrested two women and a group of vigilantes for allegedly beating and burning a 20-year-old male.
Abubakar Yusuf was allegedly beaten on Thursday evening and set ablaze by men suspected to be vigilante after he was accused of stealing N400,000 from a lockup store at the Sapele Market, from one Mrs. Onoriode (surname unknown)
A source at the Sapele Main Market said: “Onoriode accused Abubakar, a wheel barrow pusher at the Sapele main market, of stealing her money from her lockup store. While the argument was going on, she invited men of the vigilante to arrest him. He (Abubakar) was then taken away only to be beaten by the vigilantes black and blue and even set ablaze”.
Another source at the market told Vanguard that Abubakar was taken away by the vigilante, only for Onoriode’s sister to admit she was the one who took the cash for safe keeping from the lockup store.
After Abubakar was released by men of the vigilante, Onoriode and some market women were said to have taken Abubakar to a local chemist store, treated and discharged him.
However members of a human rights advocacy group, led by Comrade Kingsley Imode, were said to have taken up the case, and reported the issue to the police.
A police source said: “As I speak to you, two women have been arrested and the vigilante team responsible for the act are behind bars too.
“We will investigate the matter and justice will be done accordingly”.
Meanwhile Abubakar has been taken to the Sapele Central Hospital for treatment.
