Crime · Security
How mob overpowered police, lynched woman over unverified child theft claim
A woman accused of child theft was lynched and set ablaze by a mob in Kaduna State after being forcibly taken from police custody, despite authorities saying there was no evidence to support the allegation.
Police Condemn Mob Killing After Woman Dragged from Custody
Tragedy struck in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, on Saturday, June 21, 2026, after a woman accused of child theft was lynched and her body set ablaze by a mob, despite police intervention and the absence of evidence supporting the allegation. The Kaduna State Police Command condemned the killing, describing it as a criminal act and a direct attack on the rule of law, while pledging to bring all those responsible to justice.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the incident began when some residents accused the woman of stealing a child.
The incident occurred on June 21, 2026, when a woman was accused by some residents of stealing a child, despite the absence of evidence to support the allegation.
— DSP Mansir Hassan, Kaduna State Police Command
Police said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Maraban Jos received a distress call at about 10:00 a.m. indicating that an angry mob had attacked the woman. Following the report, officers were deployed to the scene and successfully rescued the victim before taking her into protective custody at the police station pending further investigation.
On receipt of the information, the DPO promptly mobilised officers to the scene and successfully rescued the victim, taking her into protective custody at the police station pending investigation.
— DSP Mansir Hassan
Mob Storms Police Station
The situation later escalated when a large crowd reportedly stormed the police station and confronted officers on duty.
The crowd overpowered officers, dragged the woman out of the station, killed her and set her body ablaze.
— Kaduna State Police Command
The command confirmed that the victim was an indigene of Maraban Jos. Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, CP Rabiu Muhammad, strongly condemned the killing and warned against acts of mob justice and lawlessness. He stressed that no individual or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands, regardless of the allegations levelled against a suspect.
The commissioner also disclosed that several arrests had already been made in connection with the incident, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects who fled the scene.
A comprehensive investigation has commenced, and all those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
— Kaduna State Police Command
Police Warn Against Vigilante Justice
The command urged residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and advised members of the public to report suspected criminal activities to security agencies for proper investigation and prosecution. Police reiterated their commitment to protecting lives and property across the state while ensuring that justice is pursued through lawful processes.