By Evelyn Usman
LAGOS—A teenage hawker around Maza-Maza area of Lagos was, weekend, rescued from  a suspected kidnapper who posed as a customer. An angry mob, which rescued the 13-year-old girl from the suspected kidnapper’s car, was at the verge of setting him on fire when policemen from the Satellite Town Division arrived the scene.

However, the suspect’s vehicle, a Mercedes Benz190 with number plate AU 164 AGL, was set ablaze by the mob.

The rescued teenager  told policemen that the owner of the vehicle (names withheld) gave her a N1000 note having bought a brand of detergent worth N300. She said she was unable to give him the balance as that was her first sale.  Time was 9.30a.m.

She alleged that the suspect sprayed a liquid substance into her face, following which she lost consciousness. However, as she was being driven away, some inquisitive onlookers who apparently sensed all was not well, raised an alarm, following which some commercial motorcyclists and motorists rescued her.

However, the suspect, who is currently at the Special Anti-Robbery unit of the state’s Police Command, denied the allegation. Rather he told policemen that his intention was to rape the teenager.

Commenting on the arrest, the Command’s spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, condemned the mob’s action for setting the Mercedes Benz on fire. He noted that  although members of the public had right to arrest but that  they have no right to take law into their hands.

Lamenting the ordeal faced by female hawkers , particularly the underage, Mba said the case would be charged to court, while investigation aimed at arresting those responsible for the jungle justice act was still on.