Abubakar Mohammed, a suspected autothief, just avoided being lynched by enraged crowds at the Kure Ultra Modern Market in Minna, the capital of Niger State, after reportedly trying to steal a Honda Civic vehicle.

A native of Tudun-Fulani, Bosso, Bosso Local Government Area, the 40-year-old suspect attempted to drive the car—registered as KAG 371 AA—out of Kure Market from the market's parking lot on Thursday.

Eyewitnesses said his action attracted mob action; however, he was rescued from the angry mob and arrested by police officers, who responded promptly.

During interrogation, Abubakar confessed to having removed the vehicle from the car park with the aid of a fabricated key.

According to him, “I plan to take the vehicle to my usual receiver, one Bashir Mohammed of Mando area in Kaduna State.”

The suspect further disclosed that before now, he had stolen a red Honda Civic car from the same market in March 2023.

“I sold the vehicle to the same Bashir in Kaduna at the rate of N200,000, which I used for shoe business at Kasuwa-Wanbai in Kano State.

” I needed more money for farming and to build a personal house in Wushishi to prepare myself for marriage. Presently, I have no wife. These are the reasons for the attempt to steal a car again in the market,” he confessed.

The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said the police came to the rescue of the suspect following a distress call about the incident in the market.

He explained that the case is presently being investigated at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Minna.

He added that efforts are ongoing by the operatives of the command to proceed to Kaduna State for the possible arrest of Bashir Mohammed, who was allegedly a receiver of stolen vehicles.