A woman identified as Ammaye was lynched and set ablaze by a mob in Niger State over alleged blasphemy. Police vow to arrest and prosecute suspects.
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the brutal killing of a female food seller known as Ammaye, who was lynched and set ablaze by a mob in Kasuwan Garba, Mariga Local Government Area, following accusations of making blasphemous remarks against the Islamic faith.
The disturbing incident, which occurred on Saturday, August 30, 2025, around 2:00 pm, has drawn widespread condemnation and once again reignited public debate on the dangers of mob justice in Nigeria.
According to eyewitness accounts, the events leading to Ammaye’s death started with a seemingly harmless exchange between her and a young man identified as her nephew.
The boy reportedly joked that he wanted to marry her “in order to fulfil the Sunnah.” Ammaye’s response, however, was said to have included remarks considered derogatory to Prophet Muhammad.
Her words quickly spread across the small community, sparking outrage among youths in the neighbourhood.
What started as a minor verbal exchange rapidly escalated into a communal issue, with some residents insisting that her statements amounted to blasphemy.
In an effort to manage the situation, concerned community members took Ammaye to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwan Garba, hoping traditional authority would help de-escalate the tension.
Witnesses said the District Head interrogated her, during which she allegedly repeated the same remarks that had earlier been deemed offensive.
The traditional ruler then handed her over to local security operatives for onward investigation, believing that the law should take its course.
Unfortunately, events took a violent turn before law enforcement could properly intervene.
As news of the alleged blasphemy spread, a large crowd of angry youths gathered outside. Driven by religious passion and mob anger, they insisted on immediate punishment.
Despite efforts by security personnel to maintain order, the crowd grew restless and soon overpowered the operatives.
The mob, mostly made up of young men, dragged Ammaye out, stoned her repeatedly, and eventually set her ablaze in full view of residents.
By the time police reinforcements arrived at the scene, she had already been killed in the most gruesome manner.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, Superintendent of Police (SP),Wasiu Abiodun, described the killing as “tragic, unlawful, and completely unacceptable.”
He revealed that calm had since been restored to Kasuwan Garba but stressed that the police were leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
According to him: “A report was received that one Amaye, a female resident of Kasuwan-Garba in Mariga LGA, allegedly made some utterances considered offensive to the Islamic faith.
“Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and the woman was set ablaze before the reinforcement of security teams could arrive at the scene.”
Abiodun emphasized that jungle justice is a criminal act and warned members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
He urged residents to always channel grievances through lawful authorities, assuring that the police remain committed to protecting lives and upholding justice.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Mariga Local Government Area, Abbas Adamu, confirmed the incident and called for calm.
He said peace has been restored to the community but cautioned residents against allowing emotions to push them into acts capable of threatening communal harmony.
The killing of Ammaye has once again brought to the fore the growing concern about mob justice in Nigeria. In recent years, several cases have been reported across northern states where individuals accused of blasphemy were killed without trial.
Rights groups have consistently condemned such actions, describing them as violations of both human rights and the rule of law.
Analysts say the persistence of such incidents reflects a dangerous gap between law enforcement and public trust, where communities often take justice into their own hands rather than relying on due legal processes.
The Niger State Police Command has reiterated that the perpetrators of the killing will be tracked, arrested, and made to face the full wrath of the law.
SP Abiodun urged religious and community leaders to play active roles in sensitizing their followers on tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and the importance of allowing security agencies to handle delicate matters.
“We appeal to the general public to remain calm, avoid spreading inciting statements, and allow justice to take its full course,” Abiodun said.
For now, the tragic death of Ammaye serves as a grim reminder of how quickly a spark of anger can escalate into mob violence and how urgent it is for authorities to address the menace of jungle justice in Nigeria.