- Police arrest three suspects over mob killing in Calabar
- Incident happened in Abangasang area in the early hours of Sunday
- A Beretta pistol with live ammunition was recovered
- Police condemn mob action, insist suspects must be handed over
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the mob killing of a suspected armed robber in the Abangasang area of Calabar, following an early-morning robbery attempt that ended in tragedy.
The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three individuals linked to the mob killing of a man suspected to be an armed robber in Calabar, the state capital.
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The command’s Public Relations Officer, Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, noting that the incident occurred in the early hours when the deceased allegedly attempted to rob a woman along Mbora Street, Abangasang.
According to the police, residents in the area quickly mobilised and attacked the suspect, beating him severely before security operatives arrived at the scene.
Police operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit intervened and recovered a Beretta pistol loaded with three live 9mm rounds of ammunition during the operation.
“The suspect, who had already been beaten unconscious by an angry mob, was rushed to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention,” Eitokpah said.
“Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital in the early hours of Sunday. His identity is yet to be established.”
The police spokesperson confirmed that three suspects have been taken into custody for their alleged roles in the mob attack, while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the UCTH mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Condemning the incident, the Commissioner of Police reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for mob action, stressing that taking the law into one’s hands undermines justice and public safety.
“Suspects apprehended by members of the public must always be handed over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution in line with the law,” Eitokpah stated.
He added that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.