Three suspected armed robbers were on Friday set ablaze at Orunu junction in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State by some youths.
The youths are suspected to come from the adjourning communities of the area where the suspected robbers met their Waterloo.
An eyewitness said the robbers, numbering five, took over the road and began robbing commuters before the youths appeared on the scene.
A source said that unknown to them, the villagers who were tired of incessant attacks on the road, which leads to Idah Local Government Area from Lokoja, the state capital, rushed out and descended on them.
The villagers, said the source, refused to be intimidated by the armed bandits, who were said to be foreigners from a neighbouring African country. He said: “The villagers came out in their numbers and, in the process, seized their guns before crushing three of them to death with heavy stones, clubs and other dangerous weapons. Two of the armed robbers escaped into the bush while three were burnt to ashes after they were given the beating of their lives.”
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ejule community in the area was kidnapped September last year at the spot while returning from a campaign rally in Ugwolawo.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Williams Aya, who confirmed the incident, said the police discovered three dead bodies on the road. He said that no one was seen at the scene, but the police have commenced investigation into the matter.
