Panic erupted in the Agunbiade area of Somolu, Lagos State, when a mob assaulted a physically challenged man accused of using diabolical means to steal another man’s manhood.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, came barely a week after a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers allegedly beat a tricyclist to death in Lagos Island.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Gbenga, told reporters that the chaos began after a man raised an alarm, claiming his manhood vanished immediately after he picked up a cash note said to have been dropped by the disabled suspect.
The alarm drew a crowd, which descended on the man, beating him and demanding he restore the victim’s manhood.
Photographs from the scene showed the suspect, who appeared crippled, bleeding from head injuries sustained during the attack.
Witnesses alleged that he confessed to using the money for the act and promised to restore the manhood if allowed to go elsewhere.
Gbenga said, “An Aboki was caught today for attempting to steal a manhood through diabolical means. A man claimed he picked up money dropped by him and immediately lost his manhood.
He was attacked by some boys, and he admitted he could restore it if given a chance to go somewhere. He also claimed the money had been charmed.”
Police officers from the Onipanu Division reportedly intervened and dispersed the mob.
According to accounts, the alleged victim later said his manhood had been restored, with police mediating in the matter.
When contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said she would respond but had yet to do so at the time of filing this report.
Incidents of alleged “manhood theft” have been recorded in other parts of the country.