The robbery suspects, who were already bleeding profusely when Vanguard arrived the scene, were on the verge of being set ablaze by the mob, when the Police arrived and took them away for treatment and interrogation.
The story that made the rounds at the scene was that the hoodlums attacked an innocent lady, who made some financial transactions at the MCC/Uratta Road branch of Diamond Bank Plc.
“The hoodlums trailed the lady as soon as she stepped out of the bank, carefully snatched her handbag and sped off on their motorcycle,” a female eyewitness recounted. Continuing, the witness, who refused to identify herself, said that sympathizers went on a hot chase of the fleeing hoodlums and nabbed them at the St. John’s Lab Junction, where they were blocked by a commercial tricycle operator.
“The angry mob descended on the robbers when they fell into the gutter in front of St. John’s Lab. Except drastic measures are taken against these marauders, the state will never be safe for anybody,” the lady said. Meanwhile, another set of hoodlums reportedly attacked a Catholic Nun (names withheld) and snatched her purse and other valuables along the ever busy Douglas Road, Owerri. Vanguard gathered that the hapless Catholic Nun made some purchases and was on the verge of paying for the items when she realized that her purse and other vital documents, had mysteriously disappeared from her handbag.
She complained amidst sobs that what pained her most, apart from the purse, was her international passport and other very vital documents that were removed from her handbag. Some good spirited individuals at the scene, quickly came to her aide by donating cash, which enabled her to continue on her trip. All efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a deputy superintendent of police, DSP, failed as his line could not be reached before press time.
