A first-class graduate of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Opuofoni Freeborn Ebimotimi, has been beaten to death by a mob in Bayelsa State for allegedly stealing bread.
According to SaharaReporters report, the graduate of Business Administration was killed in the early hours of Sunday at Honeyhill Tombia, Bayelsa State.
The police have confirmed the tragic death, saying three suspects have been arrested.
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Ebimotimi who was a native of Korokorosei community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government area had allegedly stolen from a business owner in the community, according to Peoples 93.1 FM in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
An alarm was raised, which forced an angry mob to pounce on Ebimotimi.
His younger sister, Idisemi Opuofoni Freeborn said neighbours and friends who saw the incident rushed to the scene of the actions and pleaded with the angry youths to allow him to live, promising to pay for the bread in double folds, but the angry youths declined the plea and killed him.
According to Idisemi, life has been unfair to them since the demise of their father, adding that hunger led him to steal bread.
The Bayelsa State Police Command in a release obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday said three suspects had been arrested and an investigation was ongoing.
“The Bayelsa State Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the mob action by unruly crowd which led to the death of Ebimotimi Freeborn ‘m’ 32 years.
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“The suspects; Preye Mathew ‘f’ 50 years, Theophilus Tiro ‘m’ 28 years, and Famous Precious ‘m’ 22 years were arrested on 9 July 2023 at about 1700 hours at Tombia- Amassoma road after an angry mob lynched the suspect to death for allegedly stealing bread.
“The Command condemned the action of the mob and warned members of the public to desist from taking the laws into their own hands. The suspects are undergoing interrogation and would be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation,” SP Asinim Butswat, the Police Public Relations Officer, said.