Abuja: Nigerian authorities Monday said they have arrested 13 people, including a traditional ruler, after a video of four university students, who were beaten and burnt alive went viral on the internet.
The students of University of Port Harcourt were accused by a vigilante group in Aluu community of southern Rivers state of stealing laptops and mobile phone handsets.
The video shows four men stripped naked, with tyres around their necks, being beaten by a mob before being set on fire.
The state Governor Chibuike Amaechi expressed disgust at the way the young men were killed. "This crime will not go unpunished. The traditional ruler and other suspects have been arrested by the police for interrogation," he said.
"The alleged incident took place at Aluu village about two kilometres outside our main campus. We do not have responsibility for security in Aluu communities, which are beyond our jurisdiction," said Williams Wodi, the university spokesman.
Extra judicial killings are common occurrence in Nigeria especially in the southern commercial capital of Lagos where petty thieves are often beaten and burnt to death by angry mobs.
PTI
