Six arrested over mob killing of 2 travellers in Kaduna

By Mohammed Tijjani

Six suspects have been arrested over alleged involvement in the mob killing of two travellers identified as Muhammadu Sani and Aliyu Mohammed in Birnin Yero community of Kaduna State.

The two men were wrongly accused of being kidnappers and thieves before they were mobbed to death, the spokesperson of Kaduna Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on July 1 when Muhammadu Sani, 45, and his friend, Aliyu Mohammed, 40, both from Umar Village in Igabi Local Government Area, were travelling on a motorcycle to Tudun Wada, Zaria, to visit their sick uncle.

Hassan said that while passing through Gidan Kalu Village, some residents became suspicious after seeing the pair riding a new motorcycle and allegedly began shouting “thieves.”

He explained that the victims, fearing for their safety, abandoned the motorcycle and fled, but were pursued by an angry mob, who brutally attacked and lynched them despite their repeated explanations that they were not criminals.

“Some of the assailants even knew the victims personally, yet the attack continued, resulting in their deaths,” the statement said.

The police spokesperson said operatives from the Birnin Yero Division swiftly responded after receiving a report of the incident and arrested one Abdullahi Mukailu Kigo alongside five other suspects.

He added that the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the crime and were currently in police custody, while investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest other individuals who participated in the unlawful killing.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, CP Rabiu Muhammad, condemned the mob action in the strongest terms and vowed that all those found culpable, regardless of their status, would be brought to justice.

The commissioner warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands over mere allegations, stressing that jungle justice remained a criminal offence.

He emphasised that under the law, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.

Muhammad urged residents to report suspected criminals to the nearest police station or other security agencies for proper investigation and prosecution, rather than resorting to self-help.

The police reiterated their commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and preventing similar incidents across Kaduna state.

NAN