RismadarVoice Reporters, June 23, 2026
Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the killing of a female teacher and mother of five, who was reportedly lynched by a mob in Mararaban Jos along the Kaduna–Zaria highway.
The victim, identified as Ummulkhairi, was attacked on Sunday after she was allegedly accused of attempting to kidnap children in the community, an allegation later found to be false.
According to eyewitness accounts, the teacher had left her home in New Mararaban Jos to attend an Islamic lecture when she stopped to ask children for directions. The interaction reportedly triggered suspicion among some residents, leading to accusations that escalated rapidly.
She was initially taken to a nearby police station, where relatives, Islamic scholars, and community leaders later arrived and confirmed her identity as a respected educator.
However, tensions reportedly escalated outside the police station as a crowd gathered, despite attempts by family members and local leaders to defuse the situation.
Witnesses said the mob eventually overpowered efforts to maintain order, forcibly took the woman from police custody, and killed her before setting her body on fire in front of the station. A motorcycle belonging to an individual who tried to intervene was also reportedly burned.
In a statement issued on Monday, Amnesty International condemned the killing, describing it as a “horrific mob attack” and urged authorities to launch a transparent and independent investigation.
The rights organisation also called for scrutiny into allegations that police officers may have handed the victim over to the mob, warning that if confirmed, such actions would represent a serious failure of law enforcement duty.
Amnesty International further described the incident as part of a disturbing rise in mob justice cases across Nigeria, often fueled by rumours and unverified accusations.
The group stressed that the growing prevalence of extrajudicial killings reflects weaknesses in the justice system and a failure by security agencies to protect suspects in custody or prevent violent crowd actions.
It urged authorities to ensure those responsible are identified, arrested, and prosecuted, while also calling for accountability from any officials found negligent in the handling of the incident.
As of press time, the Kaduna State Police Command had yet to issue an official response to the allegations raised.
