At the early hours of Saturday, August 14, 2021, an angry mob in Okumagba Layout, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State set ablaze a suspected armed robber popularly known as Eddy, after he was allegedly caught for robbing a resident at Neequaye Street in the layout.
NewsNet Nigeria investigation revealed that late Eddy and his parents lived at Neequaye Street before they moved to No 1, Ovierugo Street also in Okumagba Layout, Warri.
The deceased was said to have lived there for some years with his parents until his alleged criminal activities compelled the owner of the compound to give them Quit Notice, which made them to seek for another accommodation at Jeddo, one of the neighbouring communities near Warri.
The robbery which ended his life according to sources took place between 3am to 4am on Saturday.
He was said to be in the company of two other members of his gang during the robbery unknowing to them that a vigilante had sighted them when they entered the compound for the operation.
On their way out after the robbery the vigilante descended on the deceased from behind with a machete forcing the other two gang members to escape.
“When the vigilante succeeded in holding him (Eddy), the victim of their robbery attack ran outside to meet them and alarm was raised which attracted people.
“He was putting on mask and it was when the mask was removed that residents of the area recognised him having lived with them for many years.
“Because of his many criminal acts in and out of the area they decided not to delay but dragged him to the popular Cinema site where he was mobbed to death before some of his friends would come around and in the process set him free'” said a dependable source.
NewsNet Nigeria gathered that past criminal activities of the late Eddy, a native of Esan in Edo State, landed him several times in Okere Prison now Correctional Centre, Warri.
A source who knew him back in the days at Hussey College, Warri, simply said, “Eddy has being a bad guy who at a stage will ask you as a friend to give him your phone and he runs away with it.
“His eventual end will to an extent reduce some of the criminal activities in the popular Okumagba Layout and beyond.”
When contacted, the Spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed the incident.
