Kaduna mob action puts police on the spot

By Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba, Kaduna, Dalhatu Liman, Musa Luka Musa & Haruna Ibrahim, Abuja   The killing of a female teacher, Malama Ummulkhair by a mob in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, last week Sunday, has continued to generate debates over the dearth of humanity among citizens and role of law enforcement agents in the face […]

By Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba, Kaduna, Dalhatu Liman, Musa Luka Musa & Haruna Ibrahim, Abuja

 

The killing of a female teacher, Malama Ummulkhair by a mob in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, last week Sunday, has continued to generate debates over the dearth of humanity among citizens and role of law enforcement agents in the face of crisis.

Days after the tragic incident, residents, community leaders, youth representatives, and police sources have continued to offer varying accounts of what happened, but at the centre of it all is the fact that a woman was killed over a false accusation.

While some residents accused the police of failing in their duty to protect the woman who had been taken into custody for safety, police sources insist officers did everything possible “under extremely difficult circumstances”. The controversy has placed the Maraban Jos Police Division and its leadership under intense scrutiny, Weekend Trust gathered.

Malama Ummulkhair, an Islamiyya school teacher was lynched and burnt by a mob on a false accusation of child stealing in Maraban Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Some residents had accused Ummulkhair, a mother of four, of attempting to steal children while on her way to attend an Islamic lecture on Sunday afternoon, it was gathered.

The allegation quickly spread and a large crowd attacked her before security operatives intervened and took her into protective custody at a nearby police station.

However, the situation later escalated as hundreds of angry youths and residents reportedly besieged the police station and demanded she be handed over to them. It was learnt that despite efforts by security personnel to restore order, the mob eventually overpowered the officers and set her ablaze.

Another account from an in law to the deceased who was said to have been in the police station with her, said Malama Ummulkhair was allegedly handed over to the mob by a police officer to prevent the mob from setting the station ablaze.  The police have debunked the allegation, adding that a thorough investigation will be carried out and all those involved will be brought to book.

 

Amnesty calls for independent investigation

Amnesty International has called for the immediate establishment of an independent, impartial and well-resourced investigation into the incident.

The human rights organisation argued that the Nigeria Police Force cannot be relied upon to investigate the incident, citing what it described as a history of failed investigations into mob killings and allegations of police complicity in the latest case.

According to Amnesty International, the police claim that an investigation has commenced lacks credibility, “as previous assurances in similar cases failed to deliver justice for victims”.

It said: “The fact that the Nigeria Police have also been accused of complicity in the mob killing of Ummulkhair is enough reason to believe that any investigation by the police may only result in a cover-up,” the organisation stated.

Amnesty described as “bizarre and unacceptable” the notion that the police could investigate allegations involving their own officers.

The organisation said witnesses informed its investigators that on June 21, 2026, a large crowd stormed a police station where Ummulkhair had sought refuge. According to the witnesses, “officers on duty allegedly dragged her from safety, removed her hijab and handed her over to the mob, which subsequently killed her and set her body ablaze”.

While acknowledging the challenges police officers may face when confronted by a large and aggressive crowd, Amnesty maintained that surrendering a victim to attackers represents a grave failure of duty and protection.

The organisation further noted that mob violence has claimed numerous lives across Nigeria over the past decade, with perpetrators often escaping accountability.

“The escalating and vicious culture of mob killings is a manifestation of the increasing failure of government institutions to protect the right to life,” Amnesty said.

It accused Nigerian authorities of failing to conduct prompt, thorough and effective investigations into cases of mob violence and of neglecting to implement adequate safeguards to protect citizens.

Amnesty also referenced findings from its October 2024 investigation, which alleged that some suspects arrested in connection with mob violence cases were extorted by police officers and released instead of being prosecuted.

According to the organisation, such practices undermine justice and contribute to a culture of impunity.

 

‘Confidence in justice system declining’

A retired Commissioner of Police and former Force Public Relations Officer, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the incident was an indication of declining confidence in the justice system.  He criticised the failure of the officers to protect the suspect in their custody, saying such conduct violates standard policing procedures.

Also, the Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited and an Abuja-based security analyst, Kabiru Adamu, said the incident shows that there is a need to restore confidence in law enforcement agents and agencies.

He insisted that mob action happens when the society or the community in question does not trust the law enforcement process.

“Where, for instance, in the past there have been instances where the law enforcement process did not meet their expectations. And sometimes this could be because of perceptions or in reality it did not meet their expectations and they take the law into their hands. Other times it’s because they feel that the individual in question deserves immediate sort of judgement and they feel that the process of judicial adjudication takes time,” he said.

He also questioned the capacity of security agencies to arrest, gather evidence, as well as to present or to prosecute the suspects.

“Where this capacity is weak or low, then you see individuals or communities taking the law into their hands”, he said.

 

‘Aura of fear at Maraban Jos’

When Weekend Trust returned to the area where the mob action took place about five days after the incident, the once bubbly community had lost its vibe. He met an atmosphere of tension as many arrests had been made in connection with the incident and no one knows who will be next. A resident of the area, Musbahu Ahmed, who spoke with our correspondent, condemned the action, but added that longstanding distrust of the police could have contributed to the incident.

He cited a previous case involving an alleged sexual assault suspect, adding, “When people report such cases, they often feel that justice is not served. Many residents believe that criminal suspects often escape punishment.”

Musbahu also linked the problem to broader social changes within Maraban Jos. He noted that the community experienced rapid growth after the ethnic and religious crises that affected parts of Kaduna State around the year 2000.

“People relocated from various communities, including Sabon Tasha and other parts of the state, transforming Maraban Jos into a major commercial and residential centre.

“Today, Maraba is a busy town filled with different kinds of people, including travellers,” he said.

He acknowledged that many young people in the area lack formal education. “Many youths here did not receive formal education, although many have vocational skills such as mechanics, welding, vulcanising, and driving. While these occupations have helped reduce unemployment and petty theft, some youths still display aggressive behaviour during disputes.”

According to him, some of those arrested might have been identified through video footages and witness accounts circulating on social media.

“Arrests were made because some suspects had been identified through their faces on social media and also from witnesses and police traced them to their homes,” he said.

He noted that because Maraban Jos sits along a major highway, many people unrelated to the incident were present in the area on the day of the unrest.

“On that very day, after the incident, people were instructed to stay indoors from 6 p.m. Since Maraban Jos is located on a highway, many travellers and truck drivers pass through. Some people who had no idea of what happened were said to have been arrested around 7 or 8 p,m,” he said.

Musbahu also believes the victim could have been saved if police had acted more decisively before the crowd gained momentum.

“The woman could have been saved if police had quickly removed her from the station before the crowd gathered,” he said.

“Tear gas was initially used to disperse the crowd, but after it was exhausted, people continued moving closer to the station and throwing stones.

“The police should have allowed the station to be attacked rather than allowing the woman to be killed,” he added.

Musbahu added that rumour mongering played a role in the incident. He said many residents believed the woman was involved in child theft when the rumour of the incident spread.

“Those who spread the accusation succeeded because people were told she had already been caught with two children and had come for a third when she was arrested. People were then informed that she was taken to the police station for protection. It was only after she was killed that many realised they had made a mistake.”

Abdullahi Sani, the community head, in an interview with an online radio platform explained that some youths initially assisted in moving the woman to the police station for safety.

Addressing allegations that the Divisional Police Officer handed the victim over to protesters, he said he did not witness such.

“On allegations that the DPO handed the woman over to protesters, I personally did not witness such an action because I had been affected by tear gas and my friend was pouring water on me.”

But according to him, when the DPO arrived at the station, the woman was already inside.

“Some people later concluded that he either brought her out or ordered her release,” he said.

He recalled that the crowd later became aggressive. “Youths intensified attempts to enter the station as they threw stones into the station.”

He also disclosed that soldiers from Jaji were mobilised but encountered difficulties reaching the scene.

“Soldiers from Jaji arrived but had difficulty accessing the station because the roads were blocked.”

Sani further argued that not everyone involved in the attack was a resident of the community.

According to him, some participants were roadside miscreants who frequently gather around the busy highway settlement. He stressed that his community had never witnessed such a tragedy despite occasional reports of missing children in the area. He recalled a previous incident involving a mentally ill woman who was falsely accused of child theft in Unguwar Maje.

“A mentally ill woman was once arrested with similar allegations of child theft but was saved by the community leader who took her to the police station before the crowd gathered,” he said.

A community leader and Chairman of the Council of Imams in Maraban Jos, Imam Umar Yusuf, whose motorcycle was also burnt during the attack, lamented the development, saying residents must desist from taken laws into their hands on mere allegations.

“If our people continue with this behaviour, the community will be difficult to live in,” he said.

He explained that nobody saw the deceased with any child, adding that anyone claiming to have seen her carrying children in a sack is lying.  “It’s always wrong for people to act on rumours,” he said.

The Assistant Youth Leader of Maraban Jos, Mas’ud Abu Sufyan, rejected portrayal of the town as an uneducated settlement.

“Maraban Jos is a peaceful town that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Those who say there are no educated people here simply do not know the town,” he said.

The community, he said, includes graduates, academics, bankers, medical doctors, professors, religious scholars among others.

According to him, the town also hosts numerous public and private schools; both primary and secondary. On the issue of distrust in law enforcement agents, Abu Sufyan argued that the situation is complicated.

“When people feel they are being treated unfairly and have nowhere to seek justice, some may resort to taking the law into their own hands,” he said.

He said as youth leaders they have started using social media platforms to educate young people about the dangers of mob justice.

“The campaigns encourage residents to allow law enforcement agencies to handle criminal allegations through lawful procedures. We are hoping to see that innocent residents arrested are released after investigations are completed, while those found guilty face the law,” he said.

 

Another community leader, Sani Abdullahi, argued that the challenge of out-of-school children is a regional issue affecting many communities across Northern Nigeria.

While condemning the killing, he acknowledged that concerns over missing children had heightened public emotions. Nevertheless, he stressed that such fears cannot justify mob violence.

He called on government authorities to improve infrastructure and strengthen security presence in the area.

“Despite our population, we have inadequate officers providing security in the community. As we speak, there are parts of the town that do not have policemen, making crimes to thrive,” he said.

 

Life no longer the same

For many residents of Maraban Jos, the incident has left behind an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear.

Malam Usman Maraba, who has lived in the community with his family for decades, said, “We have been living in a difficult situation since this incident happened.”

He said since the incident there has been a wave of raids and arrests in the community. Weekend Trust gathered that so far, over 200 people have been allegedly arrested.

“You may simply be sitting at home and suddenly see the police. The arrests started the day after the incident which was on Sunday night,” he said.

According to him, many residents believe the police failed in their primary responsibility of protecting a citizen who had been taken into their custody.

“Nobody put us in this situation except the DPO, because almost everyone in Maraba falls under his division,” he said.

“It does not make sense that a woman would be accused, the community head and others who were not carrying weapons managed to take her to the police station, yet she got killed. The DPO and his officers wear uniforms to protect lives and properties of the people, but because some youths were throwing stones at the station, they allowed the suspected woman to be killed,” he alleged.

While criticising the police, Usman acknowledged that there were serious social problems in the community which contributed to the incident.

“Many of our youths do not go to school. They lack proper upbringing and do not listen to their parents,” he said.

Usman proposed the convening of an emergency community meeting involving parents, religious leaders, and traditional rulers.

According to him, the gathering should focus on youth discipline and strategies for preventing future incidents.

He suggested that community leaders adopt stricter measures to ensure parents take responsibility for the conduct of their children.

“If a child commits a crime and escapes, the parent should be held responsible,” he said.

It was gathered that many residents fear that similar incidents could occur again unless social attitudes change in the area.

Several residents alleged that officers conducted house-to-house operations, particularly in parts of Old Maraban Jos mostly at night.

Others claimed that because of the area’s location as a transportation hub, some individuals who had no connection to the incident may have been swept up during the operations.

The state Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, had earlier in a statement confirmed that more than 100 youths and women were arrested following the incident.

He also said arrest is ongoing as the command already arraigned 24 suspects out of those arrested at the magistrate court over the incident. He also stated in the statement that investigation is ongoing to ascertain those responsible for the unrest.

 

Police deny allegations of complicity

A serving police officer who requested anonymity rejected allegations that officers deliberately abandoned the victim.

The officer described the incident as tragic and said critics were unfairly shifting blame onto the police.

“The residents are only trying to cover up their shame for killing an innocent woman,” he said.

According to him, officers took significant risks in an attempt to protect the victim.

“We did our best to protect her because many protesters were injured, one or two shot, all in an attempt by the police to protect the woman’s life,” he said.

He expressed frustration that public discussions often overlook the actions taken by officers during crises.

“People are not talking about that. They are only blaming the police for her death.”

The officer also challenged allegations circulating on social media that the DPO personally handed the woman over to the mob.

“Most of the videos circulating online captured the moment the crowd were attacking and throwing stones at the police, but no video shows where the DPO brought the lady out and handed her over to the crowd to kill,” he noted.

When contacted for further comments on the role of the DPO in the matter, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan declined comment, referring our correspondent to existing official statements issued on the incident and court proceedings involving suspects arrested in connection with the attack.

Speaking while fielding questions from newsmen recently, the state Commissioner for Human Development and Social Services, Rabi Salisu, said the government was unhappy about what happened. She maintained that the government will not stand by and allow people to take the law into their hands.

According to her, the government saw a video clip showing a few women protesting in the Maraba area over allegations of child missing. She stated that the government is aware of such concerns and noted that since this administration came into office, it has recovered children from places such as Kebbi State, Enugu State, and Abuja. She added that wherever child theft occurs, the government makes efforts to rescue the children and arrest those responsible.

She also stressed that while she is not saying children are not getting lost, people must not take the law into their own hands. She assured the public that the government will not tolerate mob justice. She stated that everyone involved will be arrested. “Many people have already been detained, and investigations are ongoing to identify all those connected to the incident so that appropriate legal action can be taken against them”.

 

‘Mob killings leaves deep psychological scars’

A psychologist, Thankgod Ocheho, has warned that the rising wave of mob killings across the country is capable of leaving lasting psychological wounds not only on victims’ families but also on witnesses and the wider society.

Speaking on the growing incidents of jungle justice, including the recent mob killing of the female teacher in Kaduna State, Ocheho said people who constantly hear about or witness mob attacks may develop symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, including hypervigilance, anxiety and recurring nightmares.

He said beyond the immediate trauma, the trend could create a dangerous culture of emotional numbness where citizens gradually become desensitised to violence and death.

“When people repeatedly witness killings and no one is held accountable, they begin to see violence as normal. Human life loses its value and society becomes indifferent to suffering,” he said.

The psychologist expressed particular concern about the impact of such incidents on children, noting that minors who witness the violent death of parents or relatives often carry the emotional scars into adulthood.

Referring to the widely circulated interview of a minor whose mother was recently killed by a mob in Kaduna, Ocheho said children exposed to such traumatic experiences may grow up harbouring feelings of anger, revenge and distrust.

He recalled similar experiences among children affected by insurgency in the North-East, some of whom expressed a desire to avenge the deaths of their parents rather than pursue normal life aspirations.

“Such experiences leave deep impressions on children. They may grow up without empathy, become emotionally withdrawn or develop aggressive tendencies. Some struggle with depression and anxiety, while others begin to see violence as a legitimate response to conflict,” he said.

Ocheho warned that the long-term consequences could extend beyond individual victims to the wider society, as traumatised children eventually become adults who occupy positions of responsibility and leadership. He urged government authorities to take decisive steps to curb mob violence and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice, stressing that protecting human life must remain a fundamental responsibility of the state.

 

113 mob attacks recorded in 2 years

Reports by national dailies as compiled by Daily Trust show that there were 64 reported jungle justice incidents with 113 persons falling victims of mob attacks in different parts of Nigeria within a period of two years. Of the figure, 35 were killed; 15 were beaten by mobs, 13 were burnt alive and one was scalded with hot oil, while many others suffered varying degrees of injuries.

The records show that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded the highest number of victims, with 28 persons affected in 17 separate incidents. Plateau State followed with 18 victims, while Kebbi recorded 10 victims in a single incident. Rivers and Benue states accounted for nine victims each.

Edo and Niger states recorded five victims each, while Cross River, Lagos and Kano recorded four victims respectively. Kaduna, the latest flash point in the country’s jungle justice crisis, recorded two victims in the cases documented by Daily Trust.

Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Katsina, Jigawa, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Taraba states recorded between one and two victims each.

A regional breakdown of the data shows that the North Central zone remains the epicentre of reported mob violence in the country. The zone accounted for 62 victims and 32 incidents, representing more than half of all the cases documented.

The South-South followed with 20 victims, while the North-West recorded 18 victims. The South-West accounted for nine victims and the North-East recorded four.

A closer look at the incidents reveals that allegations of theft and robbery were the most common triggers of mob attacks. Victims were accused of stealing mobile phones, motorcycles, livestock and other valuables. Others were labelled armed robbers, kidnappers, child traffickers or ritualists.

In many cases, however, the allegations were never subjected to any judicial process before punishment was meted out, Weekend Trust found.

One of the deadliest incidents in the records occurred in Plateau State, where travellers returning from a wedding ceremony were attacked and killed by a mob in Mangu.

Legal practitioners and human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that jungle justice violates the constitutional rights of suspects and undermines the criminal justice system. They argue that every accused person is entitled to fair hearing and should be investigated and prosecuted through lawful means rather than subjected to mob violence.