A woman was lynched and burnt alive on Saturday by a mob over alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, in Kasuwan-Garba town, Mariga Local Government Area, Niger State.
The victim, identified as Amaye, a food vendor and restaurant owner, reportedly made comments considered offensive while interacting with a customer.
The incident began when a customer jokingly proposed marriage to Amaye, citing the tradition of the Prophet.
Amaye’s response was deemed blasphemous by some community members, sparking widespread outrage.
Despite being taken into protective custody by security operatives, the mob overpowered them and lynched Amaye, setting her ablaze before reinforcements could arrive.
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the incident and commenced an investigation, condemning the act of jungle justice and vowing to identify and prosecute those involved.
The police have appealed to the public to remain calm and allow security agencies to handle sensitive matters according to the law.
The police command assured that efforts were underway to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved in the crime, emphasising the importance of upholding the law and protecting human rights.
In a statement Minna by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that the tragic incident occurred on 30th August 2025, at about 2:00 pm.
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. Her comments quickly provoked anger among members of the community.
“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 stated.
He noted that while normalcy has since been restored to the area, the Police Command strongly condemned the act of jungle justice and assured that efforts are underway to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved in the crime.
The Command’s spokesman appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and allow security agencies to handle sensitive matters in line with the provisions of the law.
The incident has sparked concerns among residents and human rights advocates about the recurring trend of mob actions in parts of Nigeria, highlighting the need for proactive measures to prevent such breakdowns in law and order.
Normalcy has been restored to the area, with the local government chairman confirming the incident and reassuring the community of their safety.
