How I managed to stand against 'Jungle justice' - OB reader writes

A OB reader shares his story...

This happened around Idimu-Egbeda, Lagos. I was on my way back home this morning when I saw a pack of okada men dragging some people out of a car in front of me, two men and a woman. I was in my car watching, thinking they must have actually bashed an okada man, as it was the norm in Lagos state, where an offense against a bike man is an offense against all the bike men in like 5 communities, they would pack you down and start harassing you.

So I thought at first, until they started beating them with woods and sticks, kicking them from all directions, while some where destroying their car. I had to come down at this point after carefully packing my car at a safe spot. I managed to part the crowd, asking what happened, The shout of 'they are kidnappers' rented the air, so I managed to go into the crowd which was swelling by the minute to take pix of them. Continue...

After this, I asked an okada man what happened and how he knew they were kidnappers, he managed to say that he just saw his fellow okada men running after them, shouting "gbomo-gbomo" (Kidnappers) and he joined the crowd.

Asking around, no one seemed to know the true story, by now the crowd had gotten to close to 800 people, men, women, boys, girls, even school children, all struggling to get a glimpse, everyone in small clusters, gossiping and discussing, while some were seriously doing the beating.

At this point, sensing their anger to burn them soon, I sped with my car to the Police station on a road, as rough as "climbing Olumo rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State". I got to the station and made a quick report. (Must acknowledge the quick response of the force at this point). They jump and filled two hilux pick-ups, and followed me back to the scene.

On sighting the crowd, their gun shot rented the air. I had parked at a safe distance, because I didn't want to experience stray bullet. They were able to disperse the crowd in time to rescue the victims, Two men and a woman. At my safe distance, I could still hear people talking about how the police would end up freeing them, and that, they should have been burnt to serve as lessons for others with bad intentions.

By now, different stories of what they did had emerged and none was similar to the other. Some were like....they snatched a woman whom was coming out of the bank with N200,000, drove her a mile, then threw her out of the moving vehicle, Others were like....they kidnapped 3 children, then the mother raised an alarm, and a hot pursuit ensued. The third didn't even add up at all.....can't even bother myself tying that.

The good thing is I let the Nigerian Police force do their work