A tragic event unfolded on Wednesday in Agbarho community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State when a yet to be identified woman was set ablaze by an angry mob over allegations of child abduction.
An eyewitness who spoke to our correspondent on the grounds of anonymity on Ekwere Road, close to the scene of the mob action stated that the lady hid a seven year old boy in a sack with a bible on the other hand.
It was further gathered that some residents in the area accosted the lady to know the content of the sack when they observed the energy with which she was dragging the sack. She was said to be fidgeting when asked to open the sack. The residents went ahead to forcefully open the sack only to discover a seven year old child in it. An alarm was raised which attracted a large crowd.
A community source told our correspondent that because of the recent incidence of missing children in the community, the angry mob opted for instant justice by beating the lady to stupor, got a used tire, forced it on her neck and set her ablaze.
Just last week, it was gathered that a young man in his 20s, trying to abduct a child was caught and handed over to the police; but this lady was quite unfortunate due to apprehension that she might be released later if handed to the police.
“The angry mob probably chose to set her ablaze to send a clear message to those abducting children in the community to stay away from the town. With what has happened today, they will know it is no longer a police affair,” a source in the community said.
According to a resident who pleaded anonymity, “This is the reality we are living with, our children are no longer safe here in Agbarho. We raised the alarm a few days ago by staging a protest over the rising cases of missing children, now it’s like God has intervened and this woman was caught in the act.”
