A man, whose identity remains unknown, is currently battling for his life after he was attacked by a mob for allegedly stealing a bottle of groundnut oil at a market near the Alakara Police Station in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday. According to a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the man had pretended to be a customer at one of the stalls before discreetly taking the item. However, he was spotted by another trader while attempting to leave with the stolen product.
The witness explained that the man was apprehended and subsequently assaulted by a group of people in the market. In a disturbing escalation, some members of the mob allegedly heated a portion of the stolen oil and poured it on the victim’s back while he lay on the ground.
“He acted like he was going to buy something. While the shop owner was attending to other customers, he picked up a bottle of oil and tried to walk away. Another trader saw him and raised the alarm. He was caught, stripped, and beaten. Then, they heated the oil and poured it on his back,” the resident said.
