4 Bola Fayemi Street,
Oshodi. Lagos.
14th July, 1987
The Divisional Police Officer,
Area J Police Station,
Oshodi, Lagos.
Dear Sir,
LYNCHING OF A SUSPECTED PICKPOCKET
I am writing you this letter to narrate the ugly incident that happened in our local market last week during which an angry mob of traders lynched a suspected pickpocket.
I was buying meat from one of the meat sellers at the meat section of the market when the incident happened. Suddenly, we heard a great noise which started from one of the nearby stalls. Everybody was alarmed and I could not continue the haggling of price I was engaged in with the meat seller. Out of curiosity, I suspended what I was doing and tried to see what was happening. The noise became louder as the crowd pursuing the suspected thief came closer to me.
While I was trying to see what was really happening, a young man who was an albino ran across the meat stalls where I was and I noticed that a large crowd was running after him shouting; ole! ole!! As he was running. he was pleading his innocence but the crowd, defiant and determined as they were, gave him a hot chase.
As the noise was spreading to the other parts of the market, a man, who must have sighted the albino and the crowd pursuing him, ran towards the thief and brought him down with a great stall.
The suspected thief fell down and the crowd of angry traders converged on him venting their anger in vicious attacks. They were throwing stones on him and before we knew what was happening another man came with some petrol and a tyre. Without listening to the suspect the tyre was hung on his neck and he was soaked with petrol. Before one woman could bring the match that was used to set him ablaze, the suspected thief pleaded frantically in a fainted voice; a plea which the crowd was not ready to listen to. He was set on fire as he made the last attempt to struggle for survival to no avail. He was burnt to death before our very eyes.
It was after the man had been set on fire that the woman whose money the angry mob claimed was stolen ran down to report that she had found her money. The damage already had been done and there was nobody to be held responsible as the crowd dispersed immediately.
Sir, I think the public should be enlightened not to take the laws into their hands. They should be informed that jungle justice is against the norms of any civilized society like ours. I would be very grateful if you could take necessary steps to forestall a repeat occurrence of such an ugly incident.
Yours faithfully,
(Signature).
Lawal Adekunle