Man burnt to death over suspected motorcycle theft

Police officers at the scene of crime. /KNA

An unidentified middle-aged man was today torched to death by an angry mob on suspicion of attempting to steal a motorcycle from a rider at the Gambogi area, Vihiga County, while masquerading as a police officer.

Confirming the incident, Assistant Chief of the Gamalenga sub-location, Kennedy Kinala, said that the culprit had boarded the motorcycle pretending to be a police officer before turning on the motorcycle operator, demanding Sh5,000 from him.

He further said that the motorcycle operator managed to escape the trap set by the deceased suspect and raised an alarm that caught the attention of the area residents.

“It is at this point that the residents descended on the deceased by beating him and burning him to death,” added Kinala.

Kinala reiterated that it was important for the motorcycle operators to practise caution and be on the lookout for whom they carry and to make sure that their motorcycles have numbers for identification.

He also advised that once a motorcycle operator leaves the station where they are based, his colleagues should be aware of who he has carried and where he would be going to.