You were an eye-witness to an incident in which a crowd of angry traders beat a suspected thief to death. Write a letter to the Divisional Police Officer in...

Answer Details

12 Market Road,
Aba.
10th July, 2026.

The Divisional Police Officer,
Central Police Division,
Aba.

Dear Sir,

EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF A MOB ATTACK ON A SUSPECTED THIEF

I wish to report an incident of jungle justice which I personally witnessed at the Ariaria Main Market on the morning of 9th July, 2026, in which a suspected thief was beaten to death by a crowd of angry traders.

At about nine o'clock that morning, I was buying provisions at a stall near the market gate when I heard a loud shout of "Thief! Thief!" I turned and saw a young man, of average height and wearing a faded blue shirt, running out of a nearby shop. A trader was pursuing him, crying that the young man had snatched money from her table.

Within minutes, a large crowd had gathered. Before anyone could establish the truth, some traders seized the young man and began to beat him with sticks, planks and their fists. I and a few others pleaded that he be handed over to the police, but our voices were drowned in the anger of the mob. A tyre was brought, and despite my protests the man was set upon until he collapsed and stopped moving. By the time a police patrol arrived, the young man had already died from his injuries.

I am deeply troubled by what I saw, for no matter his offence, the young man deserved a fair trial and not death at the hands of an angry crowd. I am willing to give a full statement and to identify some of those who took part in the beating.

I therefore urge you to investigate this matter thoroughly, bring the culprits to justice, and take steps to discourage such acts of jungle justice in our community.

Thank you, Sir.

Yours faithfully,
Emeka Nwosu.