A man was on Sunday set ablaze by an angry mob in Gbatse community, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State after he was caught trying to steal a water pump at the Primary Health Care Centre located in the community.
According to a community youth leader, Adanyi Gbatse, the unknown man and others, at large, gained entrance into the fenced area where the pump had been installed and tried to dismantle it.
It was gathered that at midnight, vigilant neighbours who usually kept an eye on the place as a result of its importance to the community noticed movement within the premises of the motorized borehole.
The youth leader said one of the suspects was apprehended when he tried to start the motorcycle they had brought to use to facilitate their escape but it failed to start.
He added that during interrogation, the suspect who could only express himself in Hausa language, refused to give information about who he was and where he came from but rather became violent and started a fight, which resulted in his being lynched and burnt.
District Head of Mbayegh, Chief Nathaniel Hoyo, confirmed the incident and stated that the rural Divisional Police Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Emmanuel Igwe, informed him about the development.
According to another source, David Mzer, the recovered items which included a motorcycle, a hammer, two spanners and an iron rod have been sent to the Divisional Headquarters in Lessel for onward forwarding to the Zonal Office at Gboko for further investigation.