Mob set ablaze 22-year-old boy over alleged phone theft in Calabar

A boy identified as Eyo was set ablaze Sunday evening by a mob for allegedly stealing a phone in Calabar.

It was gathered the incident happened in the Atimbo area of Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State.

According to NAN, the deceased was known for petty stealing and had been cautioned severally by family members and friends.

The report said, the boy allegedly stole a phone on Saturday, left the community and reappeared on Sunday.

“I know Eyo from secondary school, he has always been stealing. There was a time he stole half of the class’s school fees.

“This is not the first time a mob action was carried out on him, he only met his end today,” he said.

The source said the angry mob beats the alleged thief with a cutlass before setting him on fire.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo condemned the lynching, saying it was unlawful for people to take the law into their hands.

The spokesperson said the matter should have been reported, adding that jungle justice is “unacceptable, barbaric and illegal”.