Police save suspected robber from mob attack
"Beat him!" "Where did he come from?" "We are tired." "No. No, don’t kill him!”
These were some of the phrases that could be heard as a public mob attacked and beat a 26-year-old man after he allegedly grabbed a cellphone in Ongwediva, Oshana Region, on Sunday night.
Police were called to the scene and were compelled to fire warning shots before the crowd dispersed.
Following cries for help from members of the public whose cellphones were grabbed on the street, the suspected cellphone snatcher faced instant mob justice.
A video clip released by the police shows the man being attacked with a knobkerrie and pelted with stones, while some used their bare hands while others kicked him while he lay defenceless on the ground.
Call for help
Oshana community policing Chief Inspector Thomas Aiyambo said the police received a report of a man being attacked by members of the public after allegedly grabbing cellphones from girls walking along the street.
The victims screamed for help, and a crowd rushed to their aid.
“We sent our patrol team to attend, and upon arrival, they found the 26-year-old under attack. He was rescued by the police after they fired some warning shots. He is seriously beaten, but in a stable condition,” Aiyambo said.
The victim, Lukas Mutilifa, a resident of Omatando village, was taken to Oshakati State Hospital, where he received treatment and was later discharged.
Aiyambo said one person has opened a case against Mutilifa.
However, the victim said he would not open a case against the vigilantes who attacked him.
The police warned the public not to take the law into their own hands, warning that they could also be vulnerable to mob justice.
“They should call the police for assistance. It is our job to make sure the criminals are arrested,” Aiyambo said. [email protected]
These were some of the phrases that could be heard as a public mob attacked and beat a 26-year-old man after he allegedly grabbed a cellphone in Ongwediva, Oshana Region, on Sunday night.
Police were called to the scene and were compelled to fire warning shots before the crowd dispersed.
Following cries for help from members of the public whose cellphones were grabbed on the street, the suspected cellphone snatcher faced instant mob justice.
A video clip released by the police shows the man being attacked with a knobkerrie and pelted with stones, while some used their bare hands while others kicked him while he lay defenceless on the ground.
Call for help
Oshana community policing Chief Inspector Thomas Aiyambo said the police received a report of a man being attacked by members of the public after allegedly grabbing cellphones from girls walking along the street.
The victims screamed for help, and a crowd rushed to their aid.
“We sent our patrol team to attend, and upon arrival, they found the 26-year-old under attack. He was rescued by the police after they fired some warning shots. He is seriously beaten, but in a stable condition,” Aiyambo said.
The victim, Lukas Mutilifa, a resident of Omatando village, was taken to Oshakati State Hospital, where he received treatment and was later discharged.
Aiyambo said one person has opened a case against Mutilifa.
However, the victim said he would not open a case against the vigilantes who attacked him.
The police warned the public not to take the law into their own hands, warning that they could also be vulnerable to mob justice.
“They should call the police for assistance. It is our job to make sure the criminals are arrested,” Aiyambo said. [email protected]
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