A young man has escaped lynching in Calabar following prompt police intervention in the early hours of Tuesday.
The young man, whose name was given as Chukwuebuka, was accused of stealing mobile phones around Harbour Junction in Calabar.
One Mr Azubuike Micheal, aged 56 years, reportedly instigated a mob to manhandle Chukwuebuka, leaving him in a state of stupor.
According to eyewitnesses, the mob was about to lynch the suspect when a team of policemen arrived and rescued him.
The PPRO of the state police command, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, confirmed the incident, saying they received a distress call in the morning, prompting the state Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, to detail a rescue team.
“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 they arrested Mr Azubuike Michael, who allegedly instigated the mob and encouraged others to subject Chukwuebuka to jungle justice.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to the protection of lives and property, the prevention of crime and maintenance of public order.
He said, “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.”