Mob killing motorcyclist in Benue
A man identified as a commercial motorcyclist was tragically lynched by a mob in Gboko town, Benue State, after being mistakenly accused of stealing a motorcycle. The incident reportedly took place near Waru Sarwuan in the Tofi Grammar School area of the local government. Witnesses say the victim was overtaken by a crowd who were in pursuit of a suspected thief riding a similar motorcycle.
During a sharp turn the motorcyclist lost control, causing his passenger to flee while he was left behind with the bike. Despite presenting identification and pleading his innocence, he was attacked by the mob, and one individual struck him with a stone before he was set ablaze. The actual owner of the motorcycle arrived shortly afterwards and confirmed that the deceased had legally bought it two weeks earlier, thereby affirming his innocence.
Law-enforcement officers from the state police command later evacuated the body around 10 pm. A spokesperson for the police said the command would investigate the incident and review the reports, though no full update was available at the time of reporting. This tragic event highlights the severe dangers of vigilante justice and the risk of innocent people losing their lives due to mistaken identity and mob hysteria.
Criminal justice experts warn that such acts of mob violence undermine the rule of law and expose communities to greater insecurity. They stress that suspects must be apprehended by law-enforcement authorities and afforded fair trial rights rather than being subjected to summary execution by mobs. Meanwhile, residents of the area and commercial motorcyclists have expressed fear and called for better protection, more policing of vigilante groups, and community education to prevent such incidents from recurring.
