Nigerian police are investigating whether a young male was lynched for stealing food after a video showing footage of the alleged incident began circulating on social media.
The footage appears to have been filmed in Lagos with an angry mob speaking in Yoruba and Pidgin, both widely spoken in the city.
But Lagos police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus told journalists that they do no believe it happened in the city and are calling for those with any information to come forward.
The age of the person involved is disputed, some saying he is a seven-year-old boy, other that he is a young man in his twenties.
The video shows a crowd rounding on the person who is accused of stealing garri (cassava porridge) from a shop.
Other images show him being beaten, stoned, tied up and later set ablaze. He reportedly died of his injuries.
At one stage a tyre is put over his neck and as blood streams from his face he pleads for his life.
Nigerians have been outraged by the alleged killing and are demanding an end to such jungle justice.
The words “garri”, “lynching”, “lynched” and “jungle” are trending on Twitter in Lagos:
Say no to jungle justice system, arrest the killers of the 7 year old boy that allegedly “stole” garri,those mobs needs to be arrested.— Justin (@osujichinedu5) November 17, 2016
The story of this kid that was lynched and set on fire for stealing garri is terrible. @PoliceNG should source these people out and bring…— Otisi Ukiwe (@tisizzles) November 17, 2016
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