Irate youths, on Sunday afternoon, killed several persons over allegations of killings and kidnappings by suspected criminals in Agenebode, the headquarters of Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Also, a police station in the area and the vehicles in it were set ablaze by the angry youths who claimed the police were providing cover for the suspected hoodlums.
The rampaging mob alleged that the criminal elements were kidnapping and killing people in the area for suspected organ harvesting.
According to reports, the community youths were able to track the phone of a suspected kidnapper, apprehended and handed him over to the police. It was later discovered that the owner of the phone was affiliated with the head of a neighbouring community.
Dissatisfied with the way the police were handling the matter, the youths were said to have stormed the police station and taken away the suspect, who led them to the house of the community leader where he confessed that several kidnapped victims had been killed and buried in shallow graves after parts of their bodies were harvested.
The incensed youths dug out the decomposing body of a young man in the compound of the community leader, who it was gathered, had reportedly fled with his family.
It was also learnt that while the youth were digging the compound, several bones believed to be those of humans were recovered.
In anger, the youths were said to have burnt down the building and then the business centres of several people, killing some of them, before storming the police station to set it ablaze.
The chairman of the council area, Mrs Benedicta Atoh, was said to be too shocked to talk as claimed by one of her aides when she was contacted.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, have visited the area to restore order.
Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, replied through a text message: “I will get back to you as soon as possible when contacted.”
