A tragic incident unfolded in the Ekiugbo community of Ughelli North Local Government Area in Delta State, as a furious mob of enraged youths set fire to a suspected thief accused of stealing building materials from a new construction site. The yet-to-be-identified individual was reportedly caught red-handed pilfering aluminium (alumaco) construction materials from a hotel under construction within the community.

According to sources, this wasn't the first time the suspected thief had targeted the construction site. Reports suggest that he had been engaging in a series of thefts from the location prior to his eventual apprehension. In a gruesome turn of events, the community vigilantes managed to catch the thief in the early hours of Wednesday.

Tragically, the situation escalated when the mob took the law into their own hands, overpowering the vigilantes and subjecting the suspect to brutal torture. The mob's anger reached a boiling point, resulting in them setting the man ablaze at the Iwhrenene junction within the community.

Remarkably, there were previous instances where the suspected thief was caught in the act of stealing, but he had somehow managed to evade severe consequences. In fact, certain individuals had even provided him with a tricycle as an avenue for earning a livelihood. Regrettably, he chose to abandon this opportunity and pursued a job as a bricklayer.

However, he eventually abandoned his bricklaying endeavor as well, reverting to his criminal activities. His ill-fated decision to steal building materials from the hotel site led to his tragic end at the hands of an enraged mob within the community.

This harrowing incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of vigilantism and the need for a functional legal system to address criminal activities. The story underscores the complexity of social dynamics and the consequences that can arise from a community's frustration with crime and repeated offenses.