Hundreds of angry mob on Thursday set three robbery suspects on fire for dispossessing a victim of his mobile handset in Onitsha the commercial town of Anambra state.

The incident happened at the busy Upper Iweka motor park in the town.

The gang members were said to be operating in a tricycle to dispossess unsuspecting victims of their belongings when nemesis hit them.

A source close to the scene said the men who operated with a tricycle had dispossessed a victim of his GSM handset.

However, luck ran out of the robbers as they were caught by some boys operating in a nearby motor park at the Upper Iweka as their tricycle failed to kickstart for them to escape.

They were later arrested in the process which attracted the mob who beat them to pull before setting them on fire.

According to the source: “The incident happened at Upper Iweka motor park, almost Infront of Star Sunny motor park, in Onitsha. The men who were operating with a tricycle stopped and dispossessed a man of his phone. As they went back into the tricycle and made to drive off, the tricycle malfunctioned and refused to start.”

“They became panicky, and in the process, some boys who were loading vehicles at the motor park quickly descended on them, beating them up.”

“Some people brought tyres and others brought fuel, and they were set ablaze immediately. Their remains is still here now smoking,” the source said.

However, the State Police command confirmed the death of the three persons at the popular Upper Iweka Junction in Onitsha.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga said men of the command rushed to the scene immediately they were alerted, but unlucky for the suspected thieves, their bodies were already smouldering in the fire.

A release issued to newsmen in Awka the state capital by Ikenga stated: “Anambra Police Operatives have recovered a tricycle, handbag and infinix phone that was allegedly dispossessed from a female victim by hoodlums operating along Owerri road, Romchi transport park, Onitsha.

“Upon police arrival, an angry mob had already set three of the hoodlums ablaze and the fourth person escaped

“Meanwhile, police operatives are already on the ground there and efforts are emplacing to bring normalcy to the area and possibly to apprehend the fleeing gang member.”

ASUU Strike: FG reconstitutes team to renegotiate 2009 agreement

Ikenga quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng as frowning at the act.

“He thanked the members of the public for assisting the Police in apprehending suspected criminals but urged them to always exercise restraint by not taking the law into their hands. They should endeavour to take such suspects to the nearest Police Station whenever they are apprehended.

“This would afford the Police the opportunity to conduct an appropriate investigation into the nefarious activities of the suspects; and bring them to justice in accordance with extant laws,” Ikenga quoted Echeng as saying.