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Kaduna Mob Killing: Family Recounts Last Moments of Teacher Burnt Over False Child Theft Claim

Published

2 months ago

June 23, 2026

"DPO Gave Kaduna Mob My Wife to Kill" – Husband Alleges Police Complicity in Lynching

Victim's husband Aliyu Mohammed and Late Malama Ummulkhair Usman

Kaduna Mob Killing: Family Recounts Last Moments of Teacher Burnt Over False Child Theft Claim

The family of Malama Ummulkhair, an Islamiyya school teacher who was lynched and burnt by a mob on a false accusation of child stealing in Maraban Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has recounted her final moments in a heart-wrenching account that has sparked national outrage and a demand for justice. The deceased, a mother of four, was on her way to attend an Islamic lecture on Sunday afternoon when some residents accused her of attempting to steal children. The allegation quickly spread, drawing a large crowd that attacked her before security operatives intervened and took her into protective custody at a nearby police station. However, the situation later escalated as hundreds of angry youths and residents reportedly besieged the police station and demanded she be handed over to them. Despite efforts by security personnel to restore order, the mob eventually overpowered the officers and set her ablaze. The Kaduna State Police Command described the killing as “barbaric, criminal, and a direct assault on the rule of law.”

Witnesses said police officers fired warning shots to disperse the crowd. One youth was reportedly shot and several others sustained injuries during the unrest along Kaduna-Zaria highway. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as disturbing, saying, “It is troubling that an allegation alone could lead to such a tragedy. She was reportedly on her way to an Islamic lesson when she was accused. Even after she was taken to the police station, the mob still went there and burned her.” Another resident attributed the violence to growing fears over alleged child theft cases in the area. Our correspondent, who visited the community on Monday, reported that police vehicles were stationed in front of the police station, and soldiers were also sighted at the station keeping vigilance.

The Village Head of New Maraban Jos, Suleiman Isa, who participated in the effort to rescue the victim, said he received a distress call from Ummulkhair’s husband and rushed to the scene on his motorcycle. He explained, “I managed to enter the place where she was being held. We then called the police because a large crowd had gathered. When the police arrived, we were able to take her to the police station.” The village head said Ummulkhair begged him to get her water, but he could not do so during the ensuing chaos. He said all entreaties by him and the victim’s Islamic teacher to the crowd to allow the law take its course fell on deaf ears. “I later went back into the police station through the back door where she had been sitting, but she was no longer there. When I came outside again, I found that she had been killed,” he added. While acknowledging concerns over missing children in the area, Isa condemned mob action, stating, “There have been cases of missing children in our area. Even now, a friend’s children are still missing. That is why people reacted the way they did. However, taking the law into one’s own hands is wrong.”

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Chairman of the Council of Imams in Maraban Jos, Imam Umar Yusuf, whose motorcycle was also burnt during the attack, insisted that the deceased was innocent and that she had been his student for many years. According to the cleric, Ummulkhair left home intending to attend his preaching session at another school but did not know the exact location. “She asked some children for directions. The children became frightened and started shouting that she was a child kidnapper,” he said. The cleric dismissed claims that she had abducted any child, noting anyone who claimed they saw her carrying children in a sack was lying. “She had no child with her. If she had kidnapped children, where are the parents of those children?” he asked. “I also went there to tell them she was not a thief, but they took my motorcycle, placed it on her, and burned both of them. She left behind four children: two boys and two girls. This is pure injustice,” he added.

The victim’s husband, Aliyu Mohammed, said he was devastated by the loss of his wife, whom he described as peaceful and God-fearing. Mohammed said he was at work when he received a call alleging that his wife had been caught attempting to kidnap children, and by the time he arrived, they had already burnt her. He recalled that before she left home, she had told him she was going for her studies, and “I wished her safe return.” The grieving husband said with her death, he will now be left to take care of his children alone. “What pains me most now is that I am left alone with the children. Whenever I look at them, I cry. Last night, our youngest child, who is four years old, kept asking why her mother had not come home, and I could only try to comfort her,” he added.

Serious questions are now being raised regarding the conduct of the police during the attack. The victim’s sister-in-law, Zainab Aliyu, who was inside the station with Ummulkhair, alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led the victim out of the station despite her explicit warning. “When we got near the gate, I warned the DPO that the crowd would kill her if he took her outside. Another officer pushed me aside. As soon as they went outside, I followed them to the roadside and tried to pull her away because people had started beating her. Then a police officer dragged me back into the station and told me to leave because the crowd might kill me too,” she recounted.

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Amnesty International condemned the incident, describing it as a horrific act of mob violence, and called for a thorough investigation. “Amnesty International strongly condemns the horrific mob killing of Malama Ummulkhairi at Mararaban Jos community along Kaduna-Zaria highway,” the group said in a statement. The organisation urged authorities to investigate allegations that police officers handed the victim over to the mob, stating that witnesses told them 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. According to Amnesty International, the incident reflected a broader failure by authorities to protect lives, lamenting that mob violence is gradually becoming the norm, largely meted out based on suspicion, rumour or hearsay.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, visited the bereaved family and assured them that justice would be served. “We have confirmed that what they accused her of was false, but some bad elements did what they did. God willing, justice will be done,” she assured. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command has said more than 80 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, told Daily Trust that arrests were ongoing. “From yesterday (Sunday) to today (Monday), we have arrested over 80 people. They are currently in our custody, and we are doing our best to ensure a thorough investigation. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Investigation has already shown that the victim was wrongly accused,” he said. Hassan also explained that access to the police station became difficult after protesters blocked major roads leading to the division, making it difficult for reinforcement teams to reach the area. The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, CP Rabiu Muhammad, warned against jungle justice and mob violence, describing such acts as a threat to public order and justice.

A human rights activist and lawyer, Hamza N. Dantani, Esq., has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, demanding an independent investigation into the allegation that police officers handed the deceased to the mob. In the petition shared on social media, Dantani described the allegation as a possible violation of constitutional rights and police duties, stating that once a suspect is taken into police custody, the Nigeria Police Force assumes a legal duty of care and responsibility for the safety and protection of that individual. The lawyer called for the interrogation of all officers on duty, preservation of evidence and prosecution of anyone found culpable, insisting that “justice must not only be done but must manifestly be seen to be done.”

Kaduna Mob Killing: Family Recounts Last Moments of Teacher Burnt Over False Child Theft Claim

Related Topics:Child Theft False family Teacher’

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Kano Woman Pleads Guilty to Severing Boyfriend’s Manhood Over Marriage Dispute

Published

7 hours ago

August 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Kano Woman Pleads Guilty to Severing Boyfriend’s Manhood Over Marriage Dispute

A Kano Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of 25-year-old Maimuna Idris in a correctional centre after she pleaded guilty to allegedly cutting off her boyfriend’s manhood with a knife. The prosecution told the court that the attack occurred after she discovered his intention to marry another woman .

The Kano State Police Command arrested Idris, a resident of Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State, following a report from the management of Durbar Hotel in Badawa Quarters, Kano, who alerted authorities to the shocking incident . The incident occurred on July 27, 2026, at about 11:00 a.m., when Idris allegedly attacked her boyfriend, Ashiru Sani, with a sharp knife after learning of his plan to marry another woman, a revelation that sparked a violent reaction with life-altering consequences . According to the prosecution, the attack was so severe that she completely severed Sani’s manhood during the altercation, leaving him with catastrophic injuries that required immediate emergency medical attention . The hotel management alerted security operatives at approximately 12:50 p.m., prompting the Badawa Divisional Police Officer to lead a team of detectives to the scene, where the suspect was arrested and the weapon—a sharp knife—was recovered as an exhibit that will be presented as evidence during the trial .

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Idris was arraigned before Magistrate Sadiya Usman on a two-count charge of attempted culpable homicide and causing grievous hurt, offences that contravene Sections 229 and 248 of the Penal Code, which carry severe penalties upon conviction . In a dramatic development that surprised the courtroom, she pleaded guilty to both charges when they were read to her in court, potentially paving the way for a swift resolution of the case . Magistrate Usman ordered that Idris be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the case until September 9, 2026, for further mention, giving the prosecution time to prepare and present their case fully .

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has strongly condemned the attack, describing violence as an unacceptable response to personal disagreements and warning that such acts would not be tolerated in the state . The police assured residents that a diligent, transparent, and thorough investigation would be conducted, and that the suspect would be prosecuted following the completion of the probe to ensure that justice is served for the victim . The victim was rushed to Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital, Kano, where he is currently receiving medical treatment, with doctors working to address the extent of his injuries and provide the necessary care for his recovery . Police said the investigation is ongoing, and further details about the case are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings continue.

Kano Woman Pleads Guilty to Severing Boyfriend’s Manhood Over Marriage Dispute

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Edo Spiritualist Arrested for $1,100 Sextortion of Indian Woman – EFCC

Published

7 hours ago

August 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Odigie Moses

Edo Spiritualist Arrested for $1,100 Sextortion of Indian Woman – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a self-acclaimed spiritualist, Odigie Moses, in Ekpoma, Edo State, for allegedly tricking an Indian woman into taking a naked spiritual bath, recording the session without her consent, and then blackmailing her for $1,100 .

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a self-acclaimed spiritualist, Odigie Moses, over his alleged involvement in a $1,100 sextortion scheme targeting an Indian woman . The anti-graft agency disclosed in a statement on Friday, August 7, 2026, that the suspect was apprehended in Ekpoma, Edo State, following an investigation into the alleged crime. The arrest forms part of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to combat the growing menace of cybercrime and online blackmail, which have become increasingly sophisticated and transnational in nature, exploiting victims across borders through digital platforms.

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According to the EFCC, Moses allegedly misrepresented himself on the social media payment platform Zelle as possessing spiritual healing powers capable of solving life-threatening challenges, a claim designed to attract vulnerable individuals seeking quick solutions to personal problems. The victim, an Indian woman seeking spiritual intervention for personal problems, contacted him believing he could help her overcome the difficulties she was facing, unaware that she was being lured into a carefully orchestrated scheme. The suspect subsequently deceived her into taking a naked spiritual bath, a ritual he presented as necessary for the healing process, which he recorded live without her permission, betraying the trust she had placed in him. Following the recording, the suspect allegedly threatened to release the explicit video publicly unless the victim paid him money, using the threat of public humiliation to extort funds from her. Under duress and to prevent the circulation of her nude footage, the woman transferred **$1,100** to the suspect, hoping the payment would put an end to the ordeal. “Investigation by the EFCC revealed that the victim had to pay the sum of $1,100 to the suspect in order to prevail on him not to release her nudity to the public,” the anti-graft agency stated, confirming the extent of the blackmail.

The EFCC described the act as sextortion, a form of image-based abuse involving threats to share nude or sexual images to coerce victims into complying with financial demands, a crime that has become increasingly common in the digital age as perpetrators exploit the anonymity and reach of the internet. The commission confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that Moses will be charged to court upon their conclusion, ensuring that the suspect faces the full weight of the law for his alleged crimes. The EFCC’s swift action in this case sends a strong message to cybercriminals that law enforcement agencies are committed to protecting victims and prosecuting offenders, regardless of where they operate from.

Edo Spiritualist Arrested for $1,100 Sextortion of Indian Woman – EFCC

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Fake Agency Director Blew N400m on Cars, Relatives, Luxury Items – Police

Published

13 hours ago

August 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Prince Adeniyi Mathew Adeyemi

Fake Agency Director Blew N400m on Cars, Relatives, Luxury Items – Police

The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered how Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who posed as Director-General of a fictitious Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), squandered N400 million on vehicles, family members, and luxury items. The investigation also revealed that he obtained an additional N100 million loan from a microfinance bank to sustain his extravagant lifestyle .

The Nigeria Police Force has conducted a comprehensive investigation into a case of alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, obtaining money under false pretences, theft of public funds, and money laundering , following a petition from the Chief of Staff to the President that exposed the activities of fraudsters operating within government circles. The probe was initiated following a written petition dated October 17, 2025, from Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Services and copied to the Inspector-General of Police . The petition drew attention to the activities of fraudsters forwarding official appointment letters purportedly from the Chief of Staff’s office, a revelation that prompted immediate security intervention and a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

The Inspector-General of Police directed the IGP-Monitoring Unit to investigate the case, setting in motion a chain of events that would uncover the full extent of the deception . The unit immediately commenced investigation and arrested the principal suspect, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who claimed to be Director-General of a fictitious Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC)/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) , on October 27, 2025 . His statement was obtained under caution, in which he claimed he received the fake appointment letter from one Babatunde Dolapo Tanimola, who is now deceased, a convenient explanation that would later be contradicted by forensic evidence . The suspect was subsequently charged to Court in November 2025 for criminal conspiracy and forgery, but the investigation was far from complete as more evidence continued to emerge. A second petition from the Chief of Staff dated June 29, 2026, was referred to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre for discreet investigation and report . The investigation team obtained voluntary statements from the complainant and seven witnesses, along with cautionary statements from 22 suspects whose names emerged during the investigation, revealing the extensive network of individuals who had been drawn into the fraudulent scheme . The team also forwarded specimen signatures of the complainant and one Mr. Segun Imohiosen for forensic analysis, a critical step that would prove decisive in establishing the forgery .

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Analysis of the suspect’s World Entrepreneurs Nigeria Ltd, GTBank account No. 0695674387 revealed that the suspect received a total of N380 million in four tranches from Divine Dopacy Nigeria Ltd, a company owned by Oyekunle Gbenga Collins, who was allegedly lured by the suspect to part with the funds under the false pretence of facilitating the award of a N2.8 billion contract for the renovation of an official residence purportedly allocated to the suspect by the EFCC . Collins had been promised a N2.8 billion contract for the renovation of an official residence purportedly allocated to the suspect by the EFCC, a promise that proved entirely fictitious . The payments were made between May and July 2025: N100 million on May 16, another N100 million on May 22, a third N100 million on May 28, and N80 million on June 20, 2025, demonstrating the systematic nature of the fraud . Further analysis on the account revealed that the suspect used the proceeds for the purchase of two personal vehicles and transferred large sums to his personal accounts and family members, revealing the true destination of the funds he had fraudulently obtained . This directly contradicted Adeyemi’s claim that he converted the total N400 million to USD and handed it over to the complainant through the late Babatunde Dolapo Tanimola, exposing his lies about the fate of the money . Analysis conducted on the suspect’s Sunshine Confectionery and Catering Services Access Bank Plc Account No. 1379777557 revealed that the suspect received N20 million from the same Divine Dopacy Nigeria Ltd on July 29, 2025, bringing the total fraudulently obtained funds to N400 million . The suspect also laundered the proceeds through personal expenses and donations, again contradicting his claim about the funds being converted to dollars and proving that he had systematically defrauded his victims . Police investigations revealed that Adeyemi also obtained an N100 million loan from a microfinance bank to sustain his high-end lifestyle, indicating that even the substantial proceeds from his fraudulent activities were insufficient to fund his lavish spending habits .

Response letter from Handwriting Experts dated March 18, 2026, confirmed that the signatures on the disputed documents are not the same as the signature of the complainant, proving the purported letters of appointment were forged and not issued by the Chief of Staff, thereby dismantling Adeyemi’s claims of legitimacy . One Mr. Segun Imohiosen, the former Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, confirmed that he did not sign the purported Mandate and Terms of Reference for the pioneering office of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council dated January 6, 2025, further exposing the extent of the forgery and the lengths to which the suspect had gone to create an elaborate web of deception . The police investigation identified five top government officials who played a major role in facilitating the commission of the offences, individuals whose negligence or complicity enabled the fraud to succeed . They have been recommended for trial depending on the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecution, meaning they could face legal consequences for their roles in the scandal . The officials include two directors in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, a Special Assistant in the Budget Office, an Assistant Director with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and a seconded staff from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation . The report stated: “Investigation further revealed that some key staff of ministries and agencies played a major role in facilitating the commission of the offences” , confirming that institutional failures had enabled the fraud to persist . The ICPC’s investigation separately identified weaknesses in verification procedures, inter-agency coordination, and internal controls in these MDAs that were exploited by the suspect, pointing to systemic issues that needed to be addressed to prevent similar frauds in the future .

The suspect successfully smuggled forged documents to the Offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Service of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, convincing multiple government agencies of his legitimacy through a combination of forged paperwork and personal charm . Staff in these offices negligently processed and approved all requests made by the suspect, leading to the fictitious agency receiving an Administrative Code, office space at the Federal Secretariat, official vehicles, Authorized Establishment, Administrative Waiver to recruit 300 staff, Secondment of Officers, opening of two accounts with the CBN (USD and GBP), Provisional Self-Accounting Status, and inclusion in the 2026 Appropriation budget . The report noted that staff in these offices failed to conduct due diligence, thereby allowing the forged documents smuggled by the principal suspect to get approvals, a failure that has now been identified as a major weakness in government administrative processes . The ICPC, in its separate investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu on July 7, 2026, uncovered two additional fictitious government agencies allegedly created by Adeyemi: the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency/Public-Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP) . The suspect used fake legislative instruments styled as enabling Acts to facilitate their creation and relied on them to open bank accounts, further demonstrating the scale and sophistication of his fraudulent enterprise .