Three
Nigerians accused of kidnapping a child were lynched to death on Tuesday by an
angry mob of young rioters in Bissau, according to a hospital source.
The
trio was killed after the disappearance of a young boy on Tuesday morning in
the capital of Guinea-Bissau.
A
rumour quickly spread across the city that the child had been taken by a group
of Nigerians, prompting an angry crowd to gather which security forces were
unable to control.
Hundreds
of angry rioters, mostly young and armed with stones and bottles, managed to
grab one of the suspected kidnappers from a police car as officers stood by
powerless, according to the AFP journalist.
“Death
to Nigerians! Enough is enough, stop! The Nigerians must leave,” chanted the
crowd.
Police
fired warning shots and tear gas in an effort to disperse the mob, but they
were unsuccessful.
The
police called for reinforcements and soldiers from the Economic Community of
West African States currently in the country were deployed in the town and managed
to restore some sense of calm in the afternoon.
Nigeria’s
embassy in Bissau, where many Nigerians sought refuge, was surrounded by
security forces for protection.
Many
shop-owners in the city closed because of the violence.
The
latest abduction came at a tense time in Bissau, as in the past fortnight
several kidnappings have been reported to the police.
Abductions
are currently an explosive topic, among the general population and on radio
shows in Guinea-Bissau, prompting a number of rumours about who has been
responsible for the disappearances.
The
authorities have enforced a travel ban on unaccompanied children and any adults
travelling with infants who they cannot prove are relations are immediately
arrested.
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