Rice thief who was being lynched by mob saved by police in Lagos

A man who stole rice and noodles, would have been lynched to death by an angry mob in the Ikota area of Eti-Osa East Local Government Area of Lagos State, but for the timely intervention of police officers who rescued him and took him away.
The Nation reports that the suspect, Stephen Effiong, was caught in the act of stealing rice, noodles and other food items from people's home and stripped naked, beaten to a pulp, and could have been killed if the police had not appeared on the scene which saved his life.

The incident occurred at the Ikota Second Gate, on the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

According to a source, Effiong, a perpetual thief, had been severally warned by residents to stop stealing their food stuffs and money but he threw such caution to the winds and on the day he met his waterloo, he was said to have gone for the operation at about 5am that fateful day, but was unfortunate to be caught while removing the items from different homes.

Effiong was said to have cut the mosquito net on the doors of the homes he invaded to enter their stores while the owners were asleep.

The suspect was allegedly caught by one Uche, who observed a movement at the back of his house and decided to follow the suspect to the place he stored his loot. Uche, it was gathered, raised the alarm and attracted other residents who forced the suspect to return the stolen items to their homes.

A resident who identified himself as Festus, said:

“He has been doing this thing for some time. Most times, people will catch him and warn him to stop but he doesn’t listen. The mob would have lynched him if the police had not arrived on time.

They dragged him to the road, removed his clothes and beat him thoroughly. People were passing and cursing him. Fortunately, policemen were passing by and stopped at the scene. That was how he was saved from jungle justice.”