An angry mob in Kaduna State has lynched two travellers after they were falsely accused of being thieves while travelling on a motorcycle to visit a sick relative.
The victims, identified as Muhammadu Sani, 45, and his friend, Aliyu Mohammed, 40, both from Umar Village in Igabi Local Government Area, were reportedly travelling to Tudun Wada, Zaria, on 1 July 2026, when they met their tragic end at Gidan Kalu Village in Birnin Yero, a few kilometres from Maraban Jos.
The Kaduna State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan.
He said the victims were attacked after some residents became suspicious on seeing them riding a new motorcycle and began raising an alarm, accusing them of being thieves.
According to the police spokesperson, the two men abandoned the motorcycle and fled in an attempt to save their lives, repeatedly insisting they were not thieves. However, the mob allegedly ignored their pleas, pursued them, and lynched them.
The police added that some of the assailants even knew the victims but still participated in the attack.
Hassan said operatives of the Birnin Yero Police Division swung into action immediately after receiving a complaint and arrested six suspects, including Abdullahi Mukailu Kigo, in connection with the killings.
He added that the suspects had confessed to participating in the crime and are currently in police custody. At the same time, investigations have been intensified to identify and apprehend other persons involved in the unlawful killing.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, Rabiu Muhammad, condemned the mob action in the strongest terms and vowed that everyone found culpable, irrespective of status or position, would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The commissioner warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands over mere allegations, stressing that jungle justice remains a criminal offence.
He reminded residents that every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. He urged members of the public to report suspected criminals to the nearest police station or other security agencies for proper investigation and prosecution, rather than resorting to violence.
The Kaduna State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and bringing everyone involved in the killings to justice.
