Okoye emphasized that justice would not be served through mob actions, urging the public to allow the police to handle such matters properly. "Any suspect should be handed over to the police for proper investigations," he stated, adding that a police team has been deployed to apprehend those responsible for the lynching.
According to reports, the couple, whose identities have not yet been confirmed, were set ablaze by angry youths in Orogwe-Ohii on Monday, September 2, after being accused of stealing motorcycles. A community source revealed that the couple was allegedly caught fleeing with a stolen motorcycle after robbing a motorcyclist at gunpoint.
“The couple was known in the community, but no one realized they were involved in motorcycle snatching until their capture,” the source said.
The source also mentioned that motorcycle theft had been a recurring issue in the area, leading residents to remain on high alert for such crimes. The couple was apprehended while attempting to rob another motorcyclist along the Orogwe/Ohii Road, and in their anger, the community members and vigilantes refused to turn them over to the police.
Many youths in the community have since fled the area, fearing potential arrests as the police conduct their investigation into the incident.