A suspected armed robber who had been on the police wanted list in Enugu State was severely beaten by an angry mob after he was caught with a pump-action gun at a market square, police sources said.
The suspect, identified as Friday Onwujekwu, popularly known as “Nwatico,” was reportedly apprehended by residents at the Eke Market Square in Akiyi, Umulokpa area of Uzo Uwani Local Government Area on Friday afternoon.
According to a situation report obtained on Sunday, the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on March 13, 2026, after the police received a distress call that the suspect had been captured by members of the public and was being lynched.
Onwujekwu had been declared wanted by the state police command following an earlier attack on a member of a local neighbourhood watch group.
Police sources said that on January 10, 2026, the suspect allegedly attacked Okechukwu Dennis Okoaku at Awkunato Village in Uzo Uwani LGA and dispossessed him of a pump-action gun before fleeing the area.
After months on the run, the suspect was reportedly sighted at the market square while still in possession of the stolen weapon, leading to his capture by residents.
“The suspect who had been on the run was caught at Eke Market Square in Akiyi Umulokpa while armed with the same pump-action gun he earlier stole. He was being lynched by an irate mob before police intervened,” a police source said.
The Divisional Police Officer quickly mobilised a patrol team to the scene, where they rescued the suspect from the mob. However, he had already sustained varying degrees of injuries from the beating.
The suspect was initially rushed to the Police Clinic in Enugu for urgent treatment but was later referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, where he is currently receiving medical care.
Police authorities said the case has been transferred to the Command’s Crack Squad in Enugu for further investigation.
Meanwhile, security sources noted that the general security situation in the state remains calm, with police continuing aggressive patrols and monitoring across communities.
