Man lynched for motorbike stealing in Ugep… Read details here

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Nyok|27 March 2019

An unidentified man, Tuesday, was lynched in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government of Cross River for killing another man in the attempt to steal his motorbike in Adim. 
The incident which happened in the day saw the lynched man sent to his early grave by an infuriated mob who practically condemned his art of murdering another man during the act of armed robbery. 
The story has it that the lynched individual burnt a motorbike owner in Adim who is a native of Ugep, stole his bike and found his way to Ugep with a bag of garri to sell the bike suspectedly. He ran out of luck as he was apprehended when information understandably got out, he was dragged to the Palace of the Obol Lopon of Ugep who in turn called for the Police. But, some indigenes/residents of Ugep would not allow the police proceed with the suspect away from the Palace as he was snatched from the police and burnt as well. 
Lokuzo John Etim a native of Ugep while describing the incident said, 'Well, today a young man was burnt to death in Ugep for allegedly killing his fellow man while trying to steal his bike…. The level at which young men proliferate small arms and resultantly kill one another in recent times calls for strictest measures.'
The development which has polarised opinions in Ugep particularly on the issue of jungle justice have some expressing their faithlessness in the justice system in the country and have therefore okayed the act of jungle justice as a deterrent, others, who are condemning it are of the opinion that it will set a bad precedent which may allow for mistaken identity and lessening of the value for life. 
In this line of reasoning, Etim has argued that, 'This act of jungle justice is condemnable especially at a time when there is a national outcry against it, but in this particular case, I think it's unavoidable… The jungle justice solution seems the best. In recent history, such culprits are apprehended and within a few weeks they are found amongst us. It's either a politician have made a call or the police as usual has compromised. It's better we end it this way. Let the burning begin!'
On the other hand, a renowned legal practitioner of Yakurr decent, Chief Utum Eteng, has this to say on the contrary: 'Stealing is bad, killing in any form and in any manner howsoever is highly comdemnable by the law of God and the law of the State. It is for this reason that whosoever is violently killed is said to have committed murder… It is painful for a loved one to be violently killed, but for the fear of mistaken identity and one being himself a murderer jungle justice has never been the solution in all civilised climes. By all Standards, Ugep Town is a civilised clime.'
Continuing, Eteng adviced: 'Let us not set barbaric precedents or allow Ugep… 
Please, for any crime committed, let the instrumemt of the law be our portion.' 
With whom do you take sides with: Chief Utum Eteng or Lokuzo John Etim