A woman accused of child theft was lynched and her body set ablaze by an angry mob after hundreds of residents reportedly stormed a police station in Mararaban Jos, Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State Police Command described the killing as barbaric, criminal and a grave violation of the rule of law, while Amnesty International called for an independent investigation into allegations that police officers may have handed the victim over to the mob.
The victim, identified as Malama Ummulkhairi, a mother of five, was attacked on Sunday following unverified allegations of child theft.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in Mararaban Jos received a distress call at about 10:00 a.m. and immediately mobilised officers to the scene.
The police said officers rescued the woman from the crowd and took her into protective custody at the police station to ensure her safety and allow for a proper investigation into the allegations against her.
However, the situation later escalated when a large crowd reportedly converged on the station and overwhelmed officers on duty.
“However, hundreds of residents later stormed the police station and overpowered officers on duty,” the statement said.
The police said the mob forcefully removed the woman from custody, killed her and set her body on fire.
“The mob subsequently killed the woman and set her body ablaze,” the statement added.
The command condemned the act, stressing that no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands.
It also confirmed that several suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend other participants in the attack.
Police authorities said a comprehensive investigation had been launched and assured the public that all those found culpable would be prosecuted.
The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, CP Rabiu Muhammad, warned against jungle justice and mob violence, describing such acts as a threat to public order and justice.
Mr Muhammad also warned against attacks on police formations and personnel, saying the command would not tolerate any attempt to undermine law enforcement operations.
He urged residents to report suspicious activities to security agencies and allow lawful procedures to determine the guilt or innocence of suspects.
“The command remains committed to protecting lives and property and ensuring that justice is served,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the killing and called for a thorough investigation into allegations that police officers may have played a role in the events leading to the woman’s death.
In a statement, the rights organisation said eyewitnesses alleged that officers on duty brought the victim out of the station and handed her over to the crowd after a large mob invaded the facility.
“Eye witnesses told Amnesty International that as a large crowd invaded the police station, officers on duty brought the victim out and handed her to the crowd that killed her and set her body ablaze,” the organisation said.
It argued that if established, such conduct would represent a serious failure of law enforcement and accountability.
Amnesty International said the killing underscored what it described as the growing trend of mob violence and “jungle justice” across Nigeria, often driven by rumours, suspicion and unverified allegations.
The organisation warned that the increasing incidence of mob attacks poses a significant threat to the right to life and reflects systemic failures by authorities to protect citizens.
According to Amnesty International, the persistence of such killings, coupled with the limited number of successful investigations and prosecutions, has emboldened mobs to take the law into their own hands.
The organisation urged Nigerian authorities to ensure a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation into both the killing and the allegations against the police, and to bring all those responsible to justice.
The incident has reignited concerns over the prevalence of mob justice in Nigeria and the challenges faced by security agencies in preventing and responding to violent crowd actions.
