Mob justice claims suspected motorcycle thief in Makurdi

By Johnson Arua

A suspected armed motorcycle robber was killed on Sunday evening by an irate mob near Prime Power Filling Station in Ankpa Ward, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following the alleged snatching of a commercial motorcycle.

According to eyewitness accounts, the suspect had earlier dispossessed an okada rider of his motorcycle along Ahmadu Commasi Road in the Demekpe area of the city.

The rider reportedly raised an alarm, prompting youths in the vicinity and fellow commercial motorcyclists to give the suspect a hot chase.

The pursuit, witnesses said, ended opposite the Prime Power fuel station, where the suspect was apprehended while attempting to cross the road toward Ankpa Quarter Junction.

Before a patrol team from the ‘D’ Division of the Nigeria Police could intervene, the suspect was attacked by the mob and died at the scene.

The motorcycle owner, Onoja Okendu, who spoke with our correspondent, thanked God for sparing his life and for the recovery of his motorcycle.

He, however, expressed deep concern over the increasing rate of motorcycle theft in Makurdi and its surrounding areas.

“This problem is getting out of hand. Many riders have been robbed, and some have even lost their lives,” Okendu said. “I consider myself lucky to be alive today.”

Narrating his ordeal, Okendu said the incident occurred while he was riding from the Wadata area toward Modern Market. “Because it was Sunday, I assumed the man who stopped me had just come out of church. He boarded the bike without saying much,” he explained.

He said the suspect later asked him to stop near the Demekpe Primary School, claiming he had forgotten something. “As soon as I stopped, he brought out a gun and ordered me to run. I ran and shouted for help. People nearby blocked him while other okada riders joined the chase,” Okendu recounted.

The commercial rider disclosed that he acquired the motorcycle on a hire-purchase basis in October 2025 at the cost of ₦2 million, noting that the growing insecurity poses a serious threat to the livelihood of riders.

He called on the government and security agencies to intensify patrols and intelligence gathering, especially in areas known for frequent motorcycle theft.

“These crimes happen in broad daylight. There are organised syndicates using different tactics, including force, chemicals, and stealing parked bikes from homes and markets,” he said.

At the time of filing this report, efforts to get a reaction from the Benue State Police Command proved unsuccessful.