Before Wednesday November 19, those who saw James Akochi, a native of Ezza Local Government Area of Ebonyi State had thought he was mad. Akochi had been around the Akanu Ibiam Airport flyover on theEnugu-Abakaliki Highway, Enugu for over a year now.

But on that fateful Wednesday morning, an angry mob gathered around Akochi, grabbed and set him ablaze. Amazingly, the supposed mad Akochi whose hair is dreadlocked turned out a mystery man as the car tyre hung on his neck and petrol poured on his body by the mob burnt out without him dropping dead. His red shirt was also not burnt.

According to an eyewitness, a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) had dropped off Akochi that early morning, which raised the curiousity of motorcycle riders popularly known as Okada, whose terminus is by a fuel station close to the Airport Road.
And at a close look at Akochi, the motorcycle riders were said to have noticed that he had some pictures of other people on him, and they suspected he might have been using them for occult and ritual purposes.

The mob accused Akochi of being responsible for the various accidents that had occurred on the Enugu-Abakiliki Expressway, alleging that he even had a pot across the road, which he used for spiritual purposes.

Thus, they descended on him, beat him black and blue, and later set him ablaze, but Akochi bore all until a team of anti-crime policemen arrived at the scene.
Surprisingly, Akochi who was lying down as if he were dead woke up and started speaking, although he was weak.

Akochi whose skin had been burnt and was peeling off, told Daily Sun that he hailed from Ezza in Ebonyi State, adding that he had to leave his state when his people started to make life unbearable for him.
He said he did not know why the mob had to seize him that early morning and beat him, adding that he did not do wrong.

But one Mr Dennis Ude who came to the scene identified one of the pictures, alleged to have been recovered from Akochi, as that of his brother Chinedu who wedded in October.
Ude, who was visibly shocked said two of those in the recovered picture had died after the wedding in mysterious circumstances.

Still not believing how the picture got to Akochi, Ude made frantic efforts to contact his brother Chinedu on phone, saying that a certain man had earlier called to tell him about the discovery.
Also, a security man working in an engineering firm in the area, where the burnt Akochi lay before the arrival of the police, said he had always been suspicious of Akochi as he stayed in the area.

“I have reasons to believe that he even harbours armed robbers; and just few days ago he harvested and took away yams from my farm there; he is a thief,” the security man insisted.
The police later carried Akochi into their pick-up van as he could no longer stand up by himself, even as the mob was satisfied that at least he had begun the journey to only-God-knows-where.

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