In a heartbreaking incident that has left many questioning the state of community justice in Nigeria, a young Good Samaritan, named Lawrence, has been lynched to death by a mob in the Owa Alero community of Agbor, Delta State.
This tragedy unfolded just four days after Lawrence had returned from Italy, where he had been working.
Eyewitness accounts said Lawrence and his brother were dining at a restaurant in the community when they witnessed a shocking act of violence: a boss attempting to stab his young apprentice, a little boy, in a fit of rage.
Refusing to stand by idly, Lawrence and his brother intervened to protect the child. What should have been a heroic act quickly escalated into chaos. The boss, backed by what sources describe as cultists from the area, turned on the brothers. Instead of seeking the truth or de-escalating the situation, nearby villagers reportedly sided with their “own,” assuming the outsiders were at fault.
In the ensuing pandemonium, the brothers tried to flee for their lives. Lawrence’s brother was struck by a passing vehicle during the chase, sustaining serious injuries. Lawrence, however, was pursued into nearby bushes by the angry mob. There, he is believed to have been severely beaten, strangled, and ultimately dumped into a pit, where his body was later discovered.
Lawrence is remembered by friends as a hardworking and kind individual, who had only just begun to enjoy the fruits of his time abroad.
Local authorities in Agbor have launched an investigation into the matter, with calls from residents and activists for justice to be served.
