A suspected phone thief was reportedly set on fire by an angry mob in Apata community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to a source, the suspect, believed to be armed, allegedly snatched a phone at gunpoint before residents apprehended him.
The young man reportedly fired a shot into the air to scare people away before he was overpowered.
“He struggled with his weapon after the first shot, and people quickly overpowered him,” said Mathew Paul, an eyewitness.
“The mob then chased him, caught him, and set him ablaze before security forces arrived.”
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Alabo Alfred, for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off at the time of reporting.
The incident highlights a growing trend of mob justice in Plateau State, where suspected criminals are often lynched instead of being handed over to law enforcement.
Residents recalled similar episodes last year in Kabong and Jenta Adamu, where alleged phone thieves and cultists were also burned by angry crowds.
