Two artisans mistaken for armed robbers killed

News Update

A mob in Edo has reportedly killed two artisans mistaken for armed robbers in Amagba community in Benin City.

Sources informed NAN on Monday that the victims, who were said to be welders, were identified as Osamudiamen Ehigie and Nosa Aghimie.

The duo were said to be returning from a project site in the community at about 6 pm on November 16 when they ran into gunmen who were robbing some residents.

A source told NAN that the suspected robbers who saw the artisans gave them a hot chase and in the process, the artisans ran into a house in the vicinity and hid themselves.

According to the source, the residents in the neighbourhood who mistook them for robbers apprehended them and beat them to death.

The owner of the site, where they had gone to work, came to the scene to argue their innocence.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the police have arrested three suspects alleged to have been directly involved in the lynching.

When contacted, SP Moses Yamu, spokesman of the police command in Edo, on Monday, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the three suspects for murder.

“The command is aware of the incident where two young boys unfortunately met their deaths. The command immediately arrested three suspects, while two other suspects are at large. Those arrested have since been charged to court,” he said.