A young man whose name and age were not immediately disclosed by the police narrowly escaped being lynched by a mob for allegedly attempting to vandalise public infrastructure.
The incident happened on Monday at Agbo Ntoe Layout, Boulevard Road, off Parliamentary Extension in Calabar.
Angry residents caught the suspect and nearly manhandled him before community leaders intervened, insisting that he be handed over to the police.
Commending the intervention of the community leaders, the spokesperson of the state police command, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said in a statement that they demonstrated restraint worthy of emulation by other communities.
Akata said their intervention prevented the lynching of the suspected vandal.
“The community leaders intervened and insisted on police presence. They then released the suspect to the police,” he said.
Akata said their action underscored the importance of community cooperation in combating jungle justice and allowing the law to take its course, as emphasised by the Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue.
He urged members of the public to reject mob violence and embrace lawful channels for addressing suspected criminal acts, saying, “A suspect is not a convict. Justice is not served by mob action but by due process.”
The suspect, identified only as Pete, has been arrested and detained at the state police command in Calabar.