TVC E. Police in Bayelsa State have arrested a 25-year-old indigene of Adamawa State and three others at Twon Brass in Brass Local Government Area of the state for allegedly beating a suspected thief to death.
Though about 33 suspects were reportedly arrested by the police over the incident that went viral on social media last week, the four were accused of beating the suspect, which led to his death.
The Chairman of Brass Local Government Area, Bello Bina, who confirmed the development, said the incident, which occurred a fortnight ago, nearly triggered a row between the Hausa community and their hosts on the Brass Island. According to him, the arrested persons were accused of tying up the suspected thief before beating him to death for allegedly breaking into a petty trader’s shop in Twon Brass.
He said: “Nobody has the right to beat another person to death over stealing. It is jungle justice and it is a crime. “We have intervened and the right thing will be done. Many of the Ijaw boys and the deceased’s family claimed that the arrest was partisan. But we have calmed all nerves and the Rule of Law must take root in Brass.” He also confirmed that the suspects have been transferred to the Homicide Unit of the State Police Command and autopsy is expected to be conducted on the corpse.
