Residents of the Ikorodu area in Lagos State have been divided over the mistaken lynching of a Nigerian comedian and Master of Ceremony, Chinedu Paul, popularly known as MC Think Twice on Sunday, July 2, 2017.
MC Think Twice was killed alongside two of his friends by members of a vigilante group who mistook them for members of the
dreaded Badoo Cult gang » , after they had gone to tow his broken-down vehicle at about 1 am and could not give a satisfactory explanation when they were accosted.
MC Think Twice and his two friends were set ablaze at Odogunyan, Ikorodu, after they were apprehended by the vigilance group along Oju-Emuren Street.
ALSO READ : "Jungle Justice: Comedian lynched by crowd that mistook him for Badoo member" »
According to residents, the suspects who were caught around 1 am, were said to have told the local security officials that they were going to tow a broken down vehicle, but their accusers were not convinced.
While a section of Nigerians, especially on the social media, have continued to condemn the killing of the fast rising entertainer, some residents of the area believe that he and the others must have had links with the gang because of the incriminating items like stones, engine oil, and handkerchiefs, found in their Sports Utility Vehicle [SUV] which have become synonymous with the deadly gang » .
The three men were lynched and burnt, while the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) they drove in was also set ablaze. Chinedu, who was said to be returning from a show, had a flat tyre and sought help from the other two victims.
It was gathered that the trio rode in the SUV and was heading to the place the comedian’s vehicle broke down before they were stopped. Not convinced by their explanations, the vigilance group called out residents and the victims were burnt alive before dawn.
The coordinator of the Ikorodu Ambassadors Group, Rasheed Fatuga , who also condemned the killing of suspects, has urged residents to be law abiding while acknowledging that security agencies have failed residents of Ikorodu and appealed to the people not to allow bitterness and the thirst for vengeance rob them of their humanity.
“Are we going to just fold our arms and do absolutely nothing about the security challenges we are facing in Ikorodu? No, we cannot let that happen. But we cannot turn ourselves into killers and murderers like them.
We cannot let them take away our humanity. We cannot let them fill our consciences with regret. Let us say no to setting people ablaze, beating people to death and use of tyres to burn people.
It is a crime. Let’s do the right thing by handing criminals to the police, and make sure we follow it up.”
However, some residents of the area have insisted that the lynched victims were Badoo gang members because they could not identify themselves before they were taken to the palace of the community leader, where the angry residents insisted on jungle justice.
A resident, Asaolu Adetunji Paul , said the victims were found with items synonymous with the cult group, which provoked the mob action.
“All of you supporting the deceased don’t know what really happened. I live and work very close to the venue where this happened. The area is very hot these days. People are no longer sleeping anymore.
When they were stopped by the vigilance group, they asked them where they were coming from and they replied Delsam hotel, which is located off Shagamu road at the back of Access Bank.
They were asked where they were going to and they said their car was having a fault and they were going to move it. They were taken to the Baale for more interrogation.
On getting to the palace, the man asked them to take them to the venue where their car broke down, but they could not, which means they were lying.
That was when they now suggested checking their truck and later found out that the guys were carrying oil and stones.
The community leader even suggested that they should be kept till day break but the people were angry just because of the many families the gang has wiped out.
They were also asked if they know anybody around Ikorodu that can identify them but the answer was no.”
ALSO READ: "Badoo: Three suspected gang members burnt to death in Ikorodu" »
Another resident who claimed to be an eyewitness disclosed that they found all the implements used by the Badoo group which included a big grinding stone, a gallon of oil presumed to be the infectious chemical used to make their victims fall deeply asleep and a cutlass.
“If I may ask please, what where those stuff doing inside the car of a comedian coming back from a show by 2 am?
In fact, the third guy confessed to being a Badoo member and warned us against many of those vacancy posters,” the resident said.