The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested six people for the killing of two travellers who were wrongly thought to be kidnappers in Gidan Kalu Village, Birnin Yero. This village is just a few kilometres from Maraban Jos in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The victims are Muhammadu Sani, 45, and Aliyu Mohammed, 40. Both men came from Umar Village in the same local government area. They were riding a motorcycle to Tudun Wada, Zaria on July 1 to see their sick uncle when the attack happened.
According to the police, residents became suspicious when they saw the men on a new motorcycle and started shouting “thieves.” In a statement released on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the command said the victims ran away in fear after the accusation.
The statement said even after explaining they were not thieves, some people in the mob knew them. Despite this, they were chased down, attacked, and killed. The statement included, “While passing through Gidan Kalu Village, some unidentified persons allegedly became suspicious after seeing them riding a new motorcycle and began shouting ‘thieves.’
“In fear for their lives, the victims abandoned the motorcycle and fled. They were, however, pursued by an angry mob, brutally attacked and lynched to death despite their explanation that they were not thieves.”
The police said that officers from the Birnin Yero Division responded to the report and arrested six suspects, which include a man named Abdullahi Mukailu Kigo. The police said these suspects have admitted to being part of the attack and are now in custody. Efforts are ongoing to catch others involved in the killing.
The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, reacted to the incident by condemning the mob action. He called it illegal and unacceptable. He promised that everyone involved, no matter their status, would be arrested and taken to court.
“The command condemns the incident in the strongest terms. All those found culpable, irrespective of their status, will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the commissioner stated.
Muhammad also warned people against taking the law into their own hands. He stressed that every suspect is innocent until a court proves otherwise. He encouraged the public to report suspected criminals to the nearest police station or security agencies instead of resorting to jungle justice.
This incident is the latest in many mob attacks in Kaduna State, driven by false accusations and public fear amid rising insecurity. PUNCH Online reported that just weeks ago, a woman named Ummulkhairi Usman Aliyu was killed by a mob at Maraban Jos after being wrongly accused of kidnapping. This killing led to a strong reaction across the country, prompting Governor Uba Sani to visit the family and offer support, while police arrested many suspects linked to the attack.
The recent lynching, which happened just a few kilometres from the Maraban Jos incident, raises concerns about the ongoing problem of jungle justice. Rights groups and legal experts have warned that such unlawful killings weaken the criminal justice system and often lead to innocent lives being lost.
The police have again stated that any claims of crime should be reported to security agencies for proper investigation and legal action rather than being dealt with by angry mobs.
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