A yet-to-be-identified mechanic narrowly escaped a mob attack on Monday after he was caught allegedly attempting to steal vehicle parts at Jemi Alade Estate, located along the Isheri-Igando area of Lagos State.

According to the PUNCH, a resident spotted the suspect loitering around the estate around 9 a.m. and became suspicious when he saw him leaning on a vehicle.

When confronted, the suspect claimed to be a mechanic working for someone in the estate but was unable to provide details to back up his claim.

The resident quickly raised an alarm, which led to the suspect being apprehended by a group of angry residents.

One of the residents, Timothy Ajibade, recounted the incident, noting that the suspect was holding tools but could not explain who he was supposed to be working for in the estate.

“We saw him loitering around in the morning but did not notice that he was up to something. He was later seen leaning on a vehicle, and that was when we became suspicious. When we approached him, we saw him holding some tools while he identified himself as a mechanic who came to work for someone in the estate. But when asked who he came to work for, he could not answer,” Ajibade said.

Furious, the residents began to beat the suspect, using various objects, causing him to bleed. He was also dragged outside and repeatedly slapped by the mob. The tension escalated as the crowd stripped him naked, despite efforts by officials from the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps to intervene and rescue him.

Another resident, who chose to remain anonymous, explained that the harsh treatment of the suspect was fueled by the community’s frustration over frequent thefts in the estate.

“We have dealt with many cases of robbery and theft in our estate, and people are angry about this. Vehicles parked overnight have been vandalized before morning, and we’ve also experienced cases where bikes are used to steal our valuables. That’s why we have been as vigilant as possible and why we challenged and treated him the way we did,” the resident said.

In a surprising turn of events, the leader of the local mechanic association, identified simply as Alhaji, was called to the scene to identify the suspect. Alhaji confirmed that the suspect had once been an apprentice at a nearby workshop but had left a long time ago.

“I was surprised when they called me on the phone that a robber was caught and that he identified himself as a mechanic who knew me. That was why I had to rush down here before I discovered that it was one of the boys who came for an apprenticeship but did not stay long,” Alhaji explained.

The suspect was eventually handed over to the mechanic association, who took him away from the scene.

Efforts to reach Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin for comment were unsuccessful as his number did not connect.