The Valentine lover was lynched and burnt to death by the mob after his failed attempt to steal gift items he intended to present to his lover from a boutique in Udu area of Delta State.
The deceased was reported to have stolen some clothes from a roadside boutique along Orhurunwho Road near Warri, but was not lucky as the shop owner raised an alarm when he attempted to escape.
He was, however, given a hot chase as he stepped out of the shop after picking the few items in a bag and the shop owner (a lady), raised an alarm, which attracted her neighbours.
He was later caught with a rubber bag containing female clothes and about five pairs of jean material, which he said he stole as valentine gifts for his girlfriend since he could not afford to buy.
The irate mob that chased the deceased lynched and burnt him alive, close to the popular Esco Superstore, along the ever-busy road.
The incident, which happened about 6:30 p.m., caused heavy traffic gridlock along the road where hundreds of residents thronged to catch a glimpse of the deceased.
But in a swift reaction, the state police chief, Mamman Tsafe, said there was no need for people to take laws into their hands especially now that the police were on top of security situation in the metropolis.