Group condemns mob killing of boy who allegedly stole in Lagos.

Following the mob killing of a boy, who allegedly stole in Lagos, civil society group, Wailing Wailers has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to bring the perpetrators to book. A video which went virile on social media showed some group of people beating, stoning and finally setting a boy between the age 7-16 ablaze, for allegedly stealing garri. This is even as some accounts circulating on social media said the young boy allegedly stone a phone and stabbed the victim.

In a statement by Usman Abubakar, the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Wailing Wailers, the group said: “We want to call the attention of the Governor of Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to the cruelty meted against one young man reported to be between the age of 7-16 years old accused of stealing Garri in Badagry area of Lagos State. “The boy was killed by mob action as seen in the video circulating on social media, a copy posted and pinned to our official Twitter Handle @NGRWailers. “We as a group, concerned with democracy and civic rights of Nigerian citizens totally condemn the sadistic and barbaric act of the killers in strong terms. “We call on Mr. Governor as the Chief Security officer of the state and all the state security agencies to wade into actions immediately and bring the perpetrators to book, the gory videos and pictures circulating on the internet can be leads to the arrest of killers of the young man. “We don’t encourage any citizen to engage in any theft, criminality or stealing of any form but even if the boy stole more than Garri as alleged online by some section of sympathizers, that does not warrant that the people should take laws into their own hands, at best, he could have been handed over to the nearest police station for investigation and be dealt with in accordance with the law of the land. “The matter have become a subject of national discourse and the good people of Nigeria wants to know how the state governor will handle the case to ensure that the family of the young man gets a fair justice for the deceased. “The worrisome and sad part as shown in the clip was that matured Nigerians, male and female who are likely to be residence of the area gathered and watched how the boy was subjected to a horrible pain before his death. “Some of them were even encouraging the killer on how he should kill the boy, this does not speak well of the oneness, peace, tolerance and love our forefathers fought very hard to achieve under a democratic setting in Nigeria. “There were many other cases of jungle justice which have been swept under the carpet; the #ALUU4 saga is still fresh in our memory where four young University undergraduates were killed and sent to early grave in cold blood by Aluu community in Rivers State on the allegation of cultism and robbery which has not been proven nor substantiated till date. “Nigeria is not a lawless country where citizens can take laws into their own hands, unfortunately, Nigerian government and security who are the law enforcers have not laid a good example with the recent killings of Indigenous People of Biafra agitators and members of Islamic Movements of Nigeria (Shiites). “The mindless killing of the young man and fellow citizen should be thoroughly investigated and his killers be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others who may likely engage in such heinous acts.”