2 suspected robbers burnt to death in Kumasi

Two suspected robbers believed to be in their mid twenties, were set ablaze Monday morning after they were severely beaten by some angry residents of Ayigya Zongo, near the Affordable Housing Project in Kumasi.

The suspects were allegedly caught red-handed at about 4am when they attempted to snatch a laptop and a cell phone from a student at gunpoint.

The residents defended what has become known as 'instance justice' in Ghana because they do not trust the police, and that anytime a suspected robber is arrested, he is set free after a few days.

But the police has often denied these claims saying they follow legal procedures in prosecuting suspects.

The residents have vowed to lynch any suspected armed robber since they are terrorizing them on daily basis.

In a graphic video available to tv3network.com, the suspected robbers were seen pleading for clemency but were not spared.

While many residents looked on helplessly begging for the suspects, a few courageous men mercilessly battered the suspects with various deadly weapons as they bled profusely.

As they became unconscious, the angry residents did not end there. Two men were seen lighting a match stick on the suspects after they had poured a substance believed to be petrol on them.

They claim, their action is to deter others from engaging in robbery activities and find themselves decent jobs to earn income.

Several residents around the Affordable Housing Project say they have been terrorized by suspected robbers at least in the last one month.

The Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi, is noted for several of such cases where suspected robbers are lynched by residents who believe the police has failed to effectively protect them.

Human rights activists have mostly condemned the canker and have advocated the prosecution of persons who take the law into their own hands.

But the police rarely prosecutes people for such offenses since in most cases, the perpetrators are often not found out after carrying out such heinous crimes.

Kumasi, which is Ghana's second largest city, also records a high number of criminal cases although the police in recent months have made several arrests.