Residents lynch 22-year-old tailor in Lagos

Tamarauemi Ebimini

A 22-year-old apprentice, identified as Hakeem Mujib, was beaten to death by residents in Lagos Island on suspicion of being a spy to armed robbers.

Newsmen gathered that the deceased had gone to drop some clothes to a nearby tailor, and stopped at his colleague’s residence around 2.00am, to pass the night.

The colleague, identified as Kehinde, lives in a two-storey building housing his assailants.

Sources said while the Oyo State-born Mujib was knocking at the gate, occupants of the building accused him of being a spy, saying the person he mentioned as his friend does not live in the building.

Rather than open the gate for him, residents allegedly descended on Mujib, beating him to death. They claimed that he could be a spy to armed robbers.

The source said the victim’s entreaties to his assailants that he was an apprentice on an errand for his boss fell on deaf ears, as they beat him with dangerous weapons till he breathed his last.

Residents from adjoining buildings, who heard the deceased reportedly rushed to his rescue, but his assailants prevented them from gaining entrance.

His lifeless body was dumped at the gate of the building, while perpetrators of the dastardly act took to their heels before members of the Community Development Association (CDA) and other residents could get there.

The matter was later reported at the Lion Building police station, while emergency workers evacuated the body to the mortuary.

When contacted, spokesperson for Lagos State Police  Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was not aware of the incident.

He promised to contact the Lion Building and report back, but he was yet to do so at press time.