A tragic incident unfolded in Gboko town, Benue State, over the weekend as a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an Okada rider, was lynched and set ablaze by a mob after being wrongly accused of stealing a Bajaj motorcycle.
The heartbreaking event occurred near the War U Sarwuan area, close to Tofi Grammar School, in Gboko Local Government Area.
Witnesses said the deceased, who was on his motorcycle with a passenger, was mistaken for a fleeing thief being chased by a mob.
According to eyewitness accounts, the rider lost control of his motorcycle during a sharp turn while trying to escape the chaos.
His passenger reportedly fled the scene, leaving him behind with the motorcycle.
Despite his pleas for mercy and attempts to explain his innocence, the mob descended on him.
One resident recounted that the Okada rider even showed his identification and begged to be spared.
“He kept saying he was innocent, but no one listened. Someone hit him with a stone, and before long, they set him on fire,” the witness said.
However, the shocking twist came moments later when the real owner of the motorcycle arrived and confirmed that the victim had been wrongly accused.
The owner explained that the bike had been purchased just two weeks earlier and that the deceased was a trusted rider known in the area.
“He was a responsible husband and father of three children. It’s heartbreaking that such an innocent man lost his life this way,” another resident told Daily Trust in a phone interview.
Meanwhile, police operatives reportedly arrived at the scene around 10 p.m. and evacuated the charred remains of the victim.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm any arrests related to the mob action.
