Angry villagers in Nkhata Bay District, have killed two suspected thieves after catching them stealing property in a house and a shop in two separate scenarios at Chintheche and Mzenga respectively.
In the first incident at Chintheche, a man whose particulars are not yet known, in the early hours of February 25, 2022, was caught by Killion Mwale in his house as he was about to sneak out with stolen items including a laptop and a bag of assorted clothes.
Mwale together with his three sons; Shadrack aged 25, Stanford aged 22, and Yobe aged 20 assaulted the suspect to an unconscious state and later took him to Chintheche Police where he was further taken to hospital before being placed in the cell.
The suspect died whilst receiving treatment. Following the death, Mwale and his three sons were immediately arrested and charged with murder.
In the second scenario, at Mzenga trading center, a suspect who has been identified as Lloyd Nebati (deceased) who hailed from Chiswamphira Village in Traditional Authority Kabunduli in the district, on February 24, 2022, was suspected to have broken into a hawker belonging to Elijah Mwale and stole some groceries.
As the matter was reported to Mzenga Police, investigations were instituted, but in the process during the night of the same date, members of the community arrested Nebati. They severely assaulted him before taking him to Mzenga Police Unit.
Nebati died on the morning of February 25, 2022, upon arrival at Kavuzi Health Centre.
Investigations to trace and arrest the suspected irate villagers are underway.
Meanwhile, police in the district are advising members of the public to avoid taking the law into their hands as it turns to affect them while nurturing criminality syndrome in society.
