Mob action

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kaduna State Police Command has arraigned 24 suspects in connection with the killing of a woman accused of child theft in the Maraban Jos area of the state.

The suspects appeared before a magistrate court sitting at the NDA Junction in Kaduna, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the police spokesperson, Mansir Hassan.

The incident occurred on Sunday after a mob allegedly attacked the woman over claims that she stole a child.

Hassan said the police received a distress call about the attack despite the absence of evidence to support the allegation against the victim.

According to him, the divisional police officer in the area led a team of officers to the scene and rescued the woman before taking her to the police station for protection and investigation.

He, however, said the mob later stormed the station, overpowered officers on duty and forcefully took the woman away before killing her and setting her body ablaze.

The police spokesperson said the suspects are facing charges that include criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, destruction of public and police property, mischief and culpable homicide.

Hassan added that the court adjourned the matter until July 21 for further hearing. He said the suspects were remanded in a correctional facility pending the outcome of the case.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government described the arraignment as a positive move toward justice and respect for the rule of law.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, praised the Kaduna police command for what he called swift action in prosecuting those linked to the incident.

“Governor Uba Sani’s administration will not tolerate any form of mob action or jungle justice. We urge residents to always report suspected criminal activities to security agencies and allow the law to take its course,” the commissioner said.

“Anyone found taking the law into their own hands will face the full consequences of the law, regardless of status or affiliation.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports reaching The Daily Reality have indicated an angry mob in Chinade town, Bauchi State’s Katagum Local Government Area, set fire to a suspected motorcycle thief.

According to a source in Chinade, the crime occurred on Sunday, and the suspect took the motorcycle from Hardawa Market in the state’s Misau LGA.

He said the suspect fled with the motorcycle but was apprehended and beaten to a pulp before being set ablaze in Chinade town.

Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police for the state police, confirmed the homicide in a statement and stated the investigation was still on.

“The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Umar Mamman Sanda, has ordered a thorough investigation into the barbaric and dehumanising act of jungle justice meted out to the suspect by some irate youths in Chinade.

“While reacting to the ugly incident, the CP frowned on the action of the irate youths, who, instead of taking the suspect to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, mobbed him to death for allegedly stealing a motorcycle without any recourse to the law,” the statement of the police commissioner read.

Communities in Bauchi State State have for over a long time been badly affected by the activities of motorcycle thieves, who, in many cases, would gruesomely murder the owner of the bike before snatching it.

Considering what reports have indicated, the Bauchi metropolis could be the most affected place in the state with respect to such criminal acts.