A mob of Lusaka’s Bauleni Compound residents yesterday descended on a 48-year-old man whom they suspected was a ritual killer and set his car ablaze.

During the fracas, two shops were also looted in the area.

Police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo confirmed the incident in a statement, narrating that the man, whose name she withheld for security reasons, was trying to chase some children who were clinging to his vehicle when the fracas began.

“A mob in Lusaka’s Bauleni Compound yesterday looted two shops and set ablaze a motor vehicle, Mitsubishi RVR registration number ABE 2270 blue in color, property of a 48 year old male Adult also of Bauleni Compound. All started yesterday at 19:00 hours when the driver of the motor vehicle spotted some children jumping and clinging to his moving motor vehicle. He then stopped and begun chasing the children and when some members the public saw this, they accused him of being a ritual murderer,” narrated Katongo.

“Attempts by the driver to explain what had transpired failed. The mob descended on the driver beating him up and was only rescued by some members of the public who surrendered him to Police.
The unruly crowd later looted shops and the value of goods stolen is yet to be established.
Police moved in quickly to restore order and they apprehended one suspect identified as Solomon Zulu believed to be the master minder for the looting and is detained in Police custody. Investigations have continued while the driver who is the victim was taken for medical attention.”

Katongo advised Lusaka residents to desist from raising false alarm and taking the law into their own hands.