Kaduna Mob Justice Horror: Woman Accused of Child Theft Lynched and Body Burned by Enraged Crowd
A woman identified as Malama Ummulkhairi was brutally killed and set ablaze by a mob in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, following baseless allegations of child theft. Despite police intervention to protect her, an angry crowd stormed a police station, overpowering officers before committing the heinous act. The Kaduna State Police Command has strongly condemned the incident, describing it as barbaric and an assault on the rule of law, confirming arrests and an ongoing investigation.
Residents of Maraban Jos in Kaduna State were left in shock following a horrific act of mob justice on Sunday, June 21, 2026, when a woman identified as Malama Ummulkhairi was brutally killed and set ablaze. The tragic incident, fueled by unverified allegations of child theft, has ignited widespread outrage and intensified concerns over the escalating menace of jungle justice, lawlessness, and mob violence spurred by rumours and misinformation.
According to accounts from her family members and associates, Malama Ummulkhairi, an Islamic teacher and a mother of more than five children, had journeyed from the New Maraban Jos area to attend an Islamic lecture reportedly organized at a local school in the old Maraban Jos axis. Reports indicate she allegedly lost her way after being separated from her companions and subsequently sought directions from children within the neighbourhood. Shortly thereafter, some residents reportedly accused her of attempting to steal children—an allegation that witnesses and relatives vehemently insist was entirely baseless.
As tensions escalated, a crowd began to gather. To ensure her protection and facilitate an investigation into the allegations, the woman was reportedly taken to a nearby police station. Family members, upon learning of the situation, rushed to the station, attempting to identify her and explain that she was a well-known Islamic teacher. Witnesses further stated that efforts were made to de-escalate the situation and persuade the gathered crowd to allow security agencies to conduct a proper investigation into the allegation.
However, the situation took a horrific turn when a large mob, numbering in the hundreds, stormed the police station. Overpowering the officers on duty, they forcibly removed Malama Ummulkhairi from protective custody. The mob then proceeded to kill her and set her body ablaze, marking a barbaric and criminal act that has been widely condemned.
Reacting to the incident, the Kaduna State Police Command strongly condemned the attack, describing it as "barbaric," "criminal," and a "direct assault on the rule of law." DSP Mansir Hassan, the spokesperson for the command, reiterated that police officers had moved the woman into custody precisely for her safety and to investigate the allegation against her before the mob launched their attack on the station. The Command explicitly stated, "No person or group has the authority to take the law into their own hands."
The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, issued a stern warning, declaring that the command would not tolerate jungle justice, mob action, or attacks on police formations and personnel. He urged members of the public to report suspected criminal activities to law enforcement agencies and allow due process to take its course. The police have disclosed that several suspects have already been arrested in connection with the incident, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend others involved. A comprehensive investigation has commenced, with assurances that all those responsible for this horrific act would face the full weight of the law.