Amnesty condemns mob killing of Kaduna teacher, demands police probe

Crime Diary, Obituaries

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the mob killing of Malama Ummulkhairi, a mother of five and teacher, in Mararaban Jos community along the Kaduna–Zaria highway, describing the incident as a horrific example of growing jungle justice in the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the rights group said Ummulkhairi was attacked and killed on June 21 after a false alarm allegedly accused her of planning to abduct children while she was on her way to attend a Qur’anic recitation session.

Amnesty International also called for an investigation into allegations that police officers handed the victim over to the mob that eventually lynched her.

The organisation urged the Inspector-General of Police to probe claims by eyewitnesses that officers at a police station surrendered the victim to an angry crowd after the facility was invaded.

According to Amnesty, some witnesses alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) stripped Ummulkhairi of her hijab and dragged her into the hands of the mob.

Eyewitnesses told the organisation that officers on duty brought the victim out of the station and handed her over to the crowd, which subsequently killed her and set her body ablaze.

Amnesty described the incident as another indication of the authorities’ failure to protect lives and prevent mob violence.

According to the group, the persistent failure to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of jungle justice has encouraged a culture of impunity and emboldened violent mobs across the country.

“This incident is yet another example of the shocking failure of Nigerian authorities to protect lives, leading to an escalation of mob violence as people increasingly take the law into their own hands,” the organisation said.

Amnesty warned that mob attacks, often driven by suspicion, rumours and unverified allegations, pose a serious threat to the right to life and the rule of law.

“It is appalling that mob violence is gradually becoming the norm nationwide. It is largely meted out based on suspicion, rumour or hearsay,” the statement added.

The rights group described mob violence as one of the greatest threats to human rights in Nigeria, stressing that authorities must act decisively to end the trend.

“The fact that these killings have persisted for years, with few cases investigated and prosecuted, highlights the authorities’ failure to uphold their obligation to protect people from harm and violence,” Amnesty said.

The organisation called for a thorough investigation into the killing and urged authorities to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.