Two men suspected of robbery have been burnt to death by an angry mob in the Ekpo Abasi area, near Yellow Duke Street, in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, 2026, after the men were allegedly caught attempting to steal a mobile phone from a resident.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspects were intercepted while trying to escape with the phone. Some residents reportedly accused them of being members of a robbery gang allegedly terrorising the area, prompting the mob to attack and set them ablaze.
A resident, Bassey Etim, said the suspects had allegedly been involved in phone and property theft in the area, particularly targeting students.
However, another resident, Effanga Effanga, condemned the mob action, describing jungle justice as unacceptable regardless of the alleged offence.
Effanga called on the police and other security agencies to intensify patrols in the area and investigate reports of recurring phone theft and robbery.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the command received information about the mob attack and immediately deployed officers to the scene.
He said the two unidentified men were found burnt, while their remains were evacuated with the assistance of relevant local government authorities for proper preservation.
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The police spokesperson said preliminary investigations had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and identify the deceased.
Eitokpah condemned the resort to jungle justice and urged residents to hand suspected criminals over to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution.
He stressed that no individual had the right to take the law into their own hands, adding that further details would be released as the investigation progresses.
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