A young man identified as Chukwuebuka has escaped being lynched in Calabar, Cross River State, following the prompt intervention of the police in the early hours of Tuesday.
Chukwuebuka was reportedly accused of stealing mobile phones around Harbour Junction in Calabar when a mob allegedly attacked him.
A 56-year-old man, identified as Azubuike Michael, was said to have instigated the mob and encouraged them to manhandle the suspect, leaving him severely injured.
According to eyewitnesses, the mob was about to kill Chukwuebuka when a team of policemen arrived at the scene and rescued him.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Command, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said the police received a distress call concerning the attack and immediately mobilised to the area.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, directed a rescue team to respond to the situation.
“Acting promptly on the distress call, a police patrol team was immediately deployed to the scene, where operatives found one Chukwuebuka being attacked by a mob.
“The team intervened, rescued him and evacuated him to an undisclosed clinic, where he is currently receiving treatment for multiple injuries sustained during the attack,” Akata said.
The police spokesman disclosed that Michael, who allegedly instigated the mob attack, was arrested by the police.
He said the suspect was accused of encouraging other members of the mob to subject Chukwuebuka to jungle justice.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, preventing crime and maintaining public order across the state.
Akata said the Commissioner of Police had cautioned residents against taking the law into their hands, stressing that anyone suspected of committing a crime should be handed over to the police for proper investigation.
“The Commissioner cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their hands, stressing that persons suspected of committing offences should be handed over to the police for investigation and dealt with through due process rather than subjected to mob violence,” he said.
The command urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies and report suspected criminal activities rather than resorting to violence or jungle justice.