A mob in Keffi, Nasarawa State, has lynched and set ablaze a man accused of involvement in the killing of a teenage boy, in a violent episode that also saw police officers attacked.
The suspect, identified as Isma’ila Zaria, was killed after a crowd overpowered local vigilantes who had him in custody. The vigilantes had arrested Zaria in connection with the death of Aliyu Muhammadu Lawal, whose body was found in a pit.
According to Police Spokesperson SP Ramhan Nansel, police received a distress call around 12:30 p.m. but arrived to find the suspect already killed and set on fire. “Before they arrived, the suspect had been killed and set ablaze. And the mob attacked the police too, injuring some of the police officers and shattered some of the vehicles,” Nansel stated.
The deceased teenager’s father, Muhammadu Lawal, said he had a prior conflict with Zaria over noise disturbances but could not confirm a link to his son’s death. He described his son’s body as having eyes removed, a cut neck, and signs of strangulation.
A traditional title holder, Yahaya Ladan Shafale (Kakakin Sarkin Keffi), condemned the mob action and clarified that Zaria was no longer a guard at the Keffi Emirate Palace. “We condemn this incident, which we have never witnessed in our community. Keffi is a historic town and we pray such will not happen again,” he stated.
The police were able to eventually douse the tension, evacuate the burnt body to Keffi General Hospital, and commence investigations into both the teenager’s death and the mob violence.
The incident highlights the dangers of mob justice and the challenges security forces face in managing volatile community tensions, especially where allegations of heinous crimes are involved.
#Nasarawa #MobJustice #Keffi #Police #Crime #Nigeria #BreakingNews #Vigilante