HORROR IN AGBARHO: Woman Lynched and Burnt Alive Over Alleged Attempted Kidnapping of 7-Year-Old Boy

 


HORROR IN AGBARHO:

Woman Lynched and Burnt Alive Over Alleged Attempted Kidnapping of 7-Year-Old Boy

By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
For Global Egberi Media International

The usually bustling Agbarho community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State turned into a theatre of horror and raw emotion yesterday, as residents witnessed a tragic episode of jungle justice that has left many shaken.

According to eyewitnesses, chaos broke out after a woman was accused of attempting to abduct a seven-year-old boy. What began as shouts of alarm quickly escalated into uncontrollable fury as hundreds of residents poured into the streets.

“People just dey shout ‘kidnapper! kidnapper!’ everywhere. Before we know am, crowd don surround the woman. Dem no even wait for police. Dem begin beat am, carry stick, stone, anything wey dem see,” said a trader who witnessed the incident but pleaded anonymity for safety reasons.

The suspect was dragged through the streets, battered, and eventually doused with fuel before being set ablaze. Videos shared on social media show thick smoke billowing into the air as her lifeless body burned, while some onlookers tried in vain to disperse the crowd.

RISING WAVE OF JUNGLE JUSTICE

This incident is not isolated. Across Nigeria, mob justice — often triggered by allegations of theft, kidnapping, or witchcraft — has become disturbingly frequent.

Human rights groups have warned that such extrajudicial killings bypass due process and can easily claim the lives of innocent people.

“This is barbaric, unlawful, and deeply worrying,” said a spokesperson for the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR). “Even if the woman was guilty, it was the duty of the police to investigate and prosecute. Mob justice only turns the community into both judge and executioner — and that is dangerous for everyone.”

Security experts argue that the frequency of mob attacks is a sign of deep distrust between citizens and law enforcement agencies. Many communities feel that criminals, once handed to the police, often return to the streets without punishment — a situation that fuels anger and vigilante responses.

POLICE REACTION EXPECTED

As at the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Command had not issued an official statement. However, security operatives are believed to be investigating the incident to identify key perpetrators involved in the lynching.

Legal analysts have stressed that those who participated in the act could face charges ranging from murder to arson, as mob action remains a criminal offence under Nigerian law.

COMMUNITY TENSIONS RUN HIGH

Agbarho residents remain divided over the incident. While some celebrated the action as “swift justice,” others wept openly, fearful that such an incident could set a dangerous precedent.

“Today it is her, tomorrow it can be anybody — even an innocent person. We must be careful,” lamented an elder in the community.

A WAKE-UP CALL FOR AUTHORITIES

This tragic event underscores the urgent need for:

Until these steps are taken, communities may continue to take the law into their own hands, with devastating consequences.

Our Take at Global Egberi Media International:
While the protection of children and community safety is paramount, justice must never be left to mob rule. No one should be judged, tried, and executed in the streets. This is a call to action for government, security agencies, and civil society to restore law and order, so that the rule of law — not chaos — prevails in our communities.

Tags: #DeltaState #Agbarho #UghelliNorth #MobJustice #ChildSafety #HumanRights #SecurityCrisis

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