Imo residents set escaped prisoner ablaze

Angry residents of Umuawom village, Ihodimeze community in Ikeduru council area of Imo State on Wednesday pounced on one of the earlier incarcerated prisoners who were on the run and set him ablaze.

The fleeing inmate was said to have gone to Umuawom to challenge one of the families that testified against him in court and threatened to deal with them. He reportedly tried to use a gun to carry out his threat.

He was said to have been involved in a kidnapping activity that involved one of the families in Umuawom village but was eventually apprehended and remanded in custody for over one year.

The villagers, who had had enough of his threats, disturbances and daring moves, immediately pounced on him and after beating him to a pulp, set his body on fire.

The spokesman of the state police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, is yet to comment on the development.