TONGA – The escalating number of mob-justice incidents in the area is a great concern to local police. In the latest incident, a man died shortly after police had rescued him from an angry mob and transported him to hospital.
Five men were reportedly cornered and attacked by the community on April 30 after being accused of committing house robberies in the area.
According to the Tonga Police Station spokesman, Lt Mzwandile Nyambi, police were informed of the incident and on arrival found community members still burning tyres which they intended to use to kill the suspects.
“Rescue efforts by the police were successful and the men were taken to Tonga Hospital, but sadly one of them died upon arrival,” Nyambi said.
A case of murder and assault is being investigated and police are still in the process of linking the five accused with the house-robberies. No arrests have been made yet.
Community members are urged not to take the law into their own hands, but to work with the police to stop crime and enable them to apprehend suspects.
Read about previous incidents:
Residents take law into own hands
Mob attack victims saved by police’s arrival
Police call on all residents to stop acts of mob justice
