Man Lynched, Another in Critical Condition over Motorbike Theft in Awutu Kwame Watey

A motorbike theft turned deadly in Awutu Kwame Watey, a community in the Awutu Senya West District, on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 6, 2024. One man is dead, and another is in critical condition following a violent lynching by an enraged mob after the two suspects allegedly stole a motorbike.

It was around 4:30 p.m. when two men, identified as originating from Agona Kwayanko in the Agona East District, set out on a daring robbery mission. They hired the services of a local Okada rider, a motorbike transport service commonly used in rural Ghanaian communities. The two men, under the pretext of being passengers, were being taken from Kwame Watey, a neighboring community, when they launched their attack.

Midway through the journey, they suddenly turned on the rider, beating him and forcibly snatching his motorcycle. However, their crime did not go unnoticed. Word of the robbery spread quickly through the local area, and within minutes, an angry mob, including residents from Awutu Bontrase, Awutu Bereku, and surrounding communities, set out in hot pursuit.

The mob quickly caught up with the two suspects, who were still trying to flee on the stolen motorbike. The enraged locals were determined to take matters into their own hands. When the robbers were apprehended, the mob subjected them to brutal beatings, leaving one of the men lifeless on the spot.

One suspect, identified as the deceased, was left dead while the other was lynched nearly to death. 

The police are expected to focus on investigating both the robbery and the lynching, as mob justice continues to be a contentious issue across various regions in Ghana.

In other news, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings condemned the upsurge of robbery in Adabraka and promised to refer the issue to the Ministry of National Security.