A woman accused of attempting to steal children was lynched and set ablaze by an irate mob in Maraban Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, despite efforts by police to protect her.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday, has sparked outrage among residents and security authorities, with the police describing the the s a grave violation of the law.
Sources in the community said the victim, a married woman and mother, was travelling to attend an Islamic lecture when some youths accused her of involvement in child theft.
The allegation quickly spread across the area, drawing a large crowd that reportedly attacked the woman before security operatives arrived and rescued her.
She was subsequently taken to a nearby police facility, where officers intended to protect her and investigate the claims against her.
However, the situation later escalated as hundreds of youths reportedly converged on the police station, insisting that the suspect be handed over to them.
Witnesses said security personnel made efforts to calm the crowd, but the mob became uncontrollable, overpowering officers on duty and forcefully removing the woman from custody.
The attackers allegedly beat the woman to death before setting her body on fire in a gruesome act of jungle justice.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victim appeared to have been wrongly targeted, noting that she was heading for religious lessons when the accusation surfaced.
He lamented that the matter should have been left for the police to investigate rather than degenerating into mob action.
Another resident attributed the violence to growing fears among locals over persistent rumours of child abductions, which he said had heightened suspicion and tension within the community.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, said officers responded swiftly after receiving reports that a woman was being assaulted over an unverified allegation of child stealing.
According to him, the Divisional Police Officer of Maraban Jos led a team to the scene, rescued the woman and moved her to the station for safety.
Hassan said the mob later laid siege to the police facility, overwhelmed officers, seized the woman and killed her before burning her remains.
He described the development as barbaric and criminal, stressing that it represented a direct challenge to the rule of law.
The police spokesman disclosed that several suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other participants.
He added that a full-scale investigation had commenced and assured that all those found culpable would be prosecuted.
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