By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—A suspected child thief was, yesterday, nabbed, stripped naked and clubbed to death in Owerri, Imo State.

The middled aged woman, who was identified simply as Chioma, was allegedly caught while trying to steal a baby boy at Ogugba Park in Owerri municipality.

Vanguard gathered that before the mob snuffed life out of the alleged child thief, she was made to confess her sins.

She allegedly confirmed that she was the only daughter of her parents and hailed from Obudi Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area, but resided at Ogbaku in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.

A woman, who claimed to be an eyewitness and identified herself as Nnenna, told Vanguard that “the lady took the little boy from where his mother laid him.”

Nnenna said the now dead child thief wanted to hurriedly leave the scene after picking the boy, but luck ran out on her as she was nabbed by people around the area.

“The mob was not prepared to listen to those that wanted her to be handed over to the police for proper investigation.

“Barely minutes after stripping her naked, the mob descended on her and the rest is history.”

Speaking to Vanguard also, the stunned mother of the child thanked God for saving her family from the agony that would have befallen them.

She thanked those who spotted the child thief early enough and stopped her from taking her child away.

Efforts made to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, failed as his mobile line could not be reached at press time.