Two suspected robbers were on Sunday set ablaze in the Akuma community, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.

They were said to have been caught while dispossessing a woman of her Android phone in the community.

The victim had gone to the Akuma Market square to buy some goods when she was attacked.

Villagers told our correspondent that the suspects operated on a motorcycle.

One of the sources said, “They stopped in front of the woman and ordered her to hand them over her phone to them.

“But the woman refused and instead raised the alarm, which alerted the villagers despite the fact that one of the robbers pointed a gun at her.

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“The villagers, most of whom were watching football from a nearby viewing centre, mobilised against the robbers and attacked them.

“The robbers had confidence in their charms, which made them withstand gunshots from some vigilante operatives.

“While one of them managed to escape, the unlucky two were nabbed, beaten to a pulp and taken to the market square, where they were set on fire by the mob.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, promised to get back to our correspondent but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.