TRENDING: Controversies over ‘7-year-old’ lynched for stealing as police recover body

Controversies continue to trail the lynching of a “7-year-old” boy, who was accused of stealing garri in Alaafia, Orile area of Lagos state.

The gory images, which were making round on social media, had a relatively young boy, beaten to stupor, and set ablaze by an angry mob.

Nigerians took to social media to condemn the act. Some claimed that the boy was not seven years, and stole “more than garri”.

If burn them worked or jungle justice worked you only have to do it once or 2ce. It's never solved the problem. https://t.co/78PJJBCW2P

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— Wale Gates (@walegates) November 17, 2016

The hungry boy stole garri, they burnt him🔥🔥
All those who did that would beg for the same garri! Amen. 🙏🙏
Say No to #junglejustice 👏👏

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— Cyril DiliM (@cyril_dilim) November 16, 2016

Two wrongs don't make a right, nothing justifies jungle justice, regardless of suspect's age, innocent till proven guilty.

— Rosanwo (@rosanwo) November 17, 2016

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A thin line between jungle justice on the streets and online mob, both lynched their victims, the only escape; the latter may hold out.

— Ahmad Salkida (@A_Salkida) November 16, 2016

The police have denied the story of “the photos of the ‘supposed’ boy had gone viral on social media”.

He was reported to have been beaten and burnt to death by a mob after he was accused of stealing on Tuesday.

Abayomi Shogunle, head of the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) of the police, refuted the claim.

“Who knows the exact location photo was taken’’?- Boy alleged of stealing in Lagos,’’ he wrote on Twitter.

“Report from Lagos Commissioner of @PoliceNG indicates that NO BOY WAS MOBBED/BURNT in Badagry or any part of the state as circulated”

He also said the corpse of a yet to be identified adult male was recovered in the Orile area of the state.

“The adult male corpse has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy investigation ongoing to determine how he died,” he said.