CLAIM: A trending news that a first-class graduate of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Freeborn Ebimotimi was beaten to death by a mob in Bayelsa State for allegedly stealing bread has since gone viral on blogs, mainstream online news platforms, and even social media and instant messaging platforms especially Whatsapp.
VERDICT: Checks by The Nation shows this is false and misleading! Although Freeborn was accused and lynched for allegedly stealing bread, he was not a graduate of UI. A clarification has been made that he was a graduate of Lead City University, Ibadan.
BACK STORY
The 32-year-old Ebimotimi Freeborn who was accused of stealing bread in Bayelsa was lynched.
The Police in Bayelsa State arrested three suspects for allegedly taking part in the lynching.
The police spokesperson in Bayelsa, Asinim Butswat gave the names of the suspects as: Preye Mathew, 50; Theophilus Tiro, 28; and Famous Precious, 22.
Butswat said the three were arrested on 9 July at about 5p.m. at Tombia-Amassoma Road, after a mob lynched the suspect.
The Police condemned the mob action and warned members of the public to desist from taking laws into their own hands.
Freeborn’s neighbor, Barisuka Witor, residing near the bakery at Tombia community in Yenagoa, said he heard voices pleading with the mob to stop beating Freeborn but that the mob was unrelenting.
He said that the incident happened at around 4:50 a.m. on the fateful day and that when he came out of his house, Freeborn had already died.
Witor said that Freeborn’s family members and his community people mobilised and burnt down the bakery and the houses of those who allegedly beat Freeborn to death.
VERIFICATION:
The News Agency of Nigeria confirmed that Freeborn, who was beaten to death in Yenagoa, Bayelsa for allegedly stealing a loaf of bread, had mental issues.
He attended Lead City University, Ibadan.
Freeborn, who graduated in 2018, was also said to be unemployed.
He also took part in the NYSC programme.
Freeborn, a graduate of business administration, who met his fate on July 9 was known to be having mental health issues and emotionally unstable.
It was clarified that 32-year-old `stole’ a bag of “Madiga’’ — a by-product of bread, contrary to allegations that he stole a loaf of bread.
‘`Madiga’’ is described as an affordable local delicacy from bakeries that serves as snacks for children and adults when combined with butter or eaten alone.
Freeborn hailed from Korokosei, a coastal settlement in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
His neighbor and family friend, Kenneth Amewuga, described Freeborn as a brilliant young man, who graduated in the Second Class Upper Division.