The Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Internal Security, Dr. Joseph Har, averted a tragic incident when he rescued an alleged phone thief from a lynching mob at Ugbokolo Street in the High-Level area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The suspect, identified simply as David (surname withheld), was caught and severely beaten by a crowd of youths after he reportedly walked into a local salon to steal a mobile phone and N200.
Alerted by the mounting chaos, Har quickly moved to the scene and managed to rescue the young man from the hands of the enraged citizens.
Upon interrogation, David confessed to the crime while pleading for mercy.
He explained that he is a schoolteacher based in Gboko.
According to him, following the school vacation, he travelled to Makurdi to seek temporary employment as a labourer at the ongoing Wurukum flyover construction site.
However, upon arrival, he was informed that there were no job vacancies.
David stated that he became completely stranded in the state capital, with no food to eat and no transportation fare to return home.
Moved by compassion, Dr. Har contacted the General Manager of Benue Links, Comrade Alexander Fanafa, who invited both the security adviser and the suspect to his office.
Adopting a fatherly approach, the two officials offered counsel to the young man, who remorsefully promised never to engage in criminal activities again.
In a joint humanitarian gesture, Dr. Har and Comrade Fanafa provided David with financial assistance and officially secured his safe transportation back to Gboko.