by Adeola Balogun

A man suspected of being an armed robber has lost his life after being beaten and burnt to death by an angry mob.

The incident occurred in the Amakom area of Ghana, near the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The deceased was believed to have belonged to a notorious gang which had terrorized residents of the area.

According to reports:

The gang is said to have engaged volunteers of the community’s watchdog committee in a battle in the early hours of Friday morning. Some residents who spoke to Ultimate Radio say they heard gunshots at dawn, suspecting there was a shootout.

“If we get three of these and burn them I think they will stop” a relieved resident told Ultimate Radio’s Nana Oye Diabene.

“I live in this very area. This dawn I heard several gunshots and I suspected it was a robbery. I couldn’t even sleep. So I wasn’t surprised to see the guy burning this morning. The robbers have been terrorizing us in this area. Sometimes we are forced to get home early. They are always attacking us, and they will stab and shoot you if you attempt to struggle with them”.

“Just yesterday afternoon, a guy nearly attacked my friend and me so I am happy they are arresting them. I believe the burning of the suspect will serve as a deterrent to others. I am the one who swept the area where the guy was burnt. I cleared his sandals and a pair of trousers. I suspect he is a young guy” a woman narrated to Ultimate Radio.

Another male resident said “I support it because they are disturbing this area with guns. Sometimes they chase people around 5:30am and search their pockets. Sometimes around 7:30pm after football games at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, they just attack people. So I think the burning of the suspect is in the right direction” he stated.

Asokwa Police Commander Superintendant Nana Nyamekye Adane –Ameyaw told Ultimate Radio police had the information at about 5:30am reporting the incident.

He said upon arrival, the deceased was on fire but could not be saved before the arrival of the fire service. He said information gathered so far by police indicates that the suspect, who was part of a gang of criminals was overpowered during a shootout between some suspected criminals and the residents.

According to him, the suspect who had been severely beaten threatened a comeback to fight the residents, a situation that infuriated the residents who set him ablaze.

Superintendent Nana Nyamekye Adane –Ameyaw told Ultimate Radio it took a Good Samaritan to call them to the scene but the suspect whose body had been charred beyond recognition could not be saved even with the arrival of the fire service.

He says investigation is ongoing but the police for now have not identified the deceased as well as the mob that carried out the action.