A man is battling for his life after being scalded with hot oil by an angry mob that accused him of stealing groundnut oil at a market near the Alakara Police Station in Mushin, Lagos.
The yet-to-be-identified victim was reportedly caught on Friday while attempting to steal the product from a stall, disguised as a customer. Eyewitnesses say the mob responded with brutal force, heating some of the oil and pouring it over his body.
Tragically, the man was then abandoned unconscious and severely burned near a gutter just a few metres from the police station. For two days, he lay there without medical help, his condition worsening, while passersby and law enforcement officials reportedly did nothing.
A concerned citizen, Omoluabi Ifeoluwa, raised the alarm via Facebook on Monday night after discovering the man’s horrifying condition.
He wrote, “He wrote, “On receiving a distress call, I was informed that a seemingly lifeless body had been lying in a gutter near Alakara Police Station along Agege Motor Road for over two days without attention. Upon verification of this disturbing report, I promptly contacted the following officials for immediate action: Medical Officer of Health, Mushin Local Government.
“Supervisor for Health, Mushin Local Government and Divisional Police Officer, Alakara Police Station
“Following this, I arranged for an ambulance through the Lagos State Emergency Services, and we proceeded swiftly to the location. On arrival, we found a man in an extremely critical and unhygienic condition.”
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According to eyewitnesses, he was allegedly caught attempting to steal groundnut oil. As punishment, the oil was reportedly poured on him, and he was left in that state.
“We were advised to transfer him to Gbagada General Hospital for further care. Unfortunately, due to a lack of further support, medical acceptance, or guidance, I was unable to continue with the process.
“With no clear path forward and without institutional assistance, I was left with no choice but to let him go.”
Efforts by First News to contact the Divisional Police Officer, Enyinna Nwankudu, on Tuesday proved abortive.
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many Nigerians calling for justice—not just for the suspected theft, but for the inhumanity of a system that allows mob violence to replace due process.