Amnesty calls for investigation into mob killing of teacher in Kaduna

Amnesty International has asked for a proper investigation into the killing of a teacher and mother of five by a mob in Kaduna State on Sunday.

The teacher, named Ummulkhairi, was killed in Mararaban Jos, a community along the Kaduna-Zaria highway. She was wrongly accused of trying to kidnap children.

Witnesses said Ummulkhairi had left her home in New Mararaban Jos to attend an Islamic lecture at Madrasat Tashiyhul Iman. This school was set up by Islamic scholar Malama Mardiyya in the old Mararaba area.

According to reports, Ms Ummulkhairi stopped to ask some children for directions to the lecture when some women accused her of attempting to kidnap them.

She was then taken to the local police station. Witnesses said relatives, community leaders, and Islamic scholars later came to the station and confirmed she was a respected teacher.

But tensions increased as a crowd gathered outside the station. Witnesses said efforts by family members and community leaders to calm the crowd did not work.

The mob reportedly took the woman from the police, killed her, and set her body on fire in front of the station. A motorcycle belonging to someone who tried to help was also burned.

On Monday, Amnesty International condemned the killing and called for a thorough investigation. “Amnesty International strongly condemns the horrific mob killing of Malama Ummulkhairi, a mother of five, at Mararaban Jos community along Kaduna-Zaria highway on 21 June 2026,” the organization said.

The rights group also urged the police to look into claims that officers handed the victim over to the mob. “Eye witnesses told Amnesty International that as a large crowd invaded the police station, officers on duty brought the victim out and handed her to the crowd that killed her and set her body ablaze,” the organization said.

“If true, this shows a clear failure of law enforcement.” Amnesty International noted this incident is part of a troubling pattern of mob violence in Nigeria.

“It is alarming that mob violence is becoming common across the country. It usually happens based on suspicion, rumor, or hearsay,” the organization said.

They warned that the rise of jungle justice is a serious threat to the right to life and shows bigger problems in the criminal justice system.

“The failure of law enforcement agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, to stop mob violence and bring those responsible to justice, is encouraging mobs to kill,” Amnesty International added.

The organization called on authorities to find and punish those responsible for the killing and to hold accountable any public officials who failed in their duties.

The Kaduna State Police Command has not yet publicly responded to the claims made by Amnesty International.