Ebonyi Police Arrest 13 Over Mob Attack on Woman Falsely Accused of Child Abduction

Jungle justice condemned as police rescue victim from lynching at Abakaliki International Market following false alarm

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested 13 suspects in connection with the brutal mob attack on a woman who was falsely accused of abducting three children at the International Market in Abakaliki, the state capital. The suspects, comprising 10 males and three females, were taken into custody as police intensified investigations into the incident, which nearly claimed the life of the innocent woman.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi State, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, noting that the command became aware of the incident following a video trending on social media showing the assault of the woman, whom a narrator accused of abducting three children. “The division has arrested 13 suspects, 10 males and three females, in the ongoing investigation into the mob attack involving the woman who was falsely accused of abducting three children,” Ukandu stated.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the woman was attacked by a mob after false claims circulated that she had abducted three children. The police, however, established that the allegation was unfounded. Ukandu added that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The incident occurred on June 21, 2026, at the poultry section of the International Market, Abakaliki. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Central Police Station received a distress call from a concerned citizen who reported that an angry mob was about to lynch a woman over allegations that she had kidnapped three children found in her company. “Acting swiftly, the DPO led a team of officers to the scene, where they found a crowd armed with dangerous weapons attacking the woman. The officers successfully rescued her and took her to the station for her safety and further questioning,” Ukandu stated.

READ ALSO:

• US Senate Passes Historic War Powers Resolution Rebuking Trump Over Iran Conflict
• Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of Ex-FUOYE VC as Ambassador
• Sai Mallam Sect: Kebbi Authorities Confirm Presence of New Terror Group in Argungu

During interrogation, the woman explained that the children were not kidnapped but belonged to her tenant, identified as Chinyere Okwuchukwu. She stated that Chinyere was assisting her at her piggery and had entrusted the children to her care while she worked. According to the woman, she had taken the children to the market to allow her tenant to focus on her duties. Police investigations later confirmed the woman’s account. Officers visited her residence, where Chinyere Okwuchukwu identified the children as her own and confirmed that she had willingly allowed the woman to take them to the market.

Ukandu noted that the misunderstanding began when another woman questioned whether the children were hers, citing a lack of physical resemblance. Before the accused woman could respond, the stranger allegedly raised a false alarm, accusing her of child abduction. The accusation quickly attracted a mob, which descended on the woman and subjected her to a severe assault.

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, condemned the incident, describing the attack as barbaric and a dangerous example of the consequences of false accusations and jungle justice. “This incident demonstrates how an innocent person could have been killed due to false allegations,” the police commissioner said. She reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for jungle justice and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.

SP Joshua Ukandu stressed that anyone found engaging in mob action or circulating false allegations would face prosecution in accordance with the law. “The Command advises members of the public to always report suspicious incidents to the appropriate authorities and allow law enforcement agencies to carry out their responsibilities,” he said. Residents were also encouraged to make use of the command’s emergency control room number, 07064515001, to report incidents requiring urgent police intervention.

The command condemned acts of jungle justice and warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands or spreading unverified information capable of inciting violence. He added that investigations into the matter were ongoing and assured that all those found culpable would be brought to justice.

Ebonyi Police Arrest 13 Over Mob Attack on Woman Falsely Accused of Child Abduction

Sai Mallam Sect: Kebbi Authorities Confirm Presence of New Terror Group in Argungu

Security adviser confirms presence of new terror group as stakeholders meet to address growing insecurity across the state

The Kebbi State Government has raised a serious alarm over the high presence of a new terror group identified as the “Sai Mallam” sect in Argungu, adding to the state’s growing security challenges. The development was disclosed during a town hall meeting between the Deputy Inspector-General of Police supervising the North West Geo-Political Zone, DIG Suleiman Muhammad Abdul, and security stakeholders at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

The Security Adviser to the State Governor, retired Col. Danladi Ribah, expressed grave concern about the infiltration of the group, which was first discovered in the Zuru Emirate and was dislodged by security agencies but has now reportedly resurfaced in large numbers in Argungu. “We have one burning issue now, which is the discovery of another terror group. They are called ‘Sai Mallam’. We dislodged them in Zuru when we discovered them. But I was in Argungu, and I saw them again,” Ribah stated. He further revealed that the sect allegedly engages in ritual practices, noting, “They use blood for sacrifice among their members. It is high time the police take note of this sect and deal with it decisively.” The Security Adviser provided a comprehensive breakdown of the multiple security threats facing Kebbi State, explaining that Lakurawa terrorists are “coming into Kebbi on hit-and-run invasion from Sokoto State and the Republic of Niger,” Mamudawa elements enter the territory “from Kwara and Niger states,” while bandits attack Kebbi “from Zamfara state.” Despite the concerning situation, Ribah assured stakeholders that the state government was actively consulting with security agencies to reverse the trend. “Kebbi State Government is on top of the situation, we shall continue to do whatever is necessary to safeguard lives and property of our people,” he said. The governor has been providing “logistics, material and financial support to all the security services, which have been doing an excellent job to contain bandits, Lakurawa, Mamudawa and other criminal elements.”

READ ALSO:

• 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I: NYSC Fixes Date for Passing-Out Nationwide
• Senate Erupts as Lawmakers Initially Block Govs, Gbajabiamila, AGF From Historic State Police Session
• Mob Justice and the Death of Malama Ummulkhair: A Test for Nigeria’s Rule of Law

The Sai Mallam group has been a growing concern across northwestern Nigeria. According to police reports, the sect has generated widespread fear through alleged fraud, intimidation, and fetish practices. In Sokoto State, police arrested the group’s alleged leader and chief priest, Mohammed Mukhtar, in December 2025, recovering fetish materials and banners bearing the group’s name from his residence, which reportedly also served as a shrine. Police authorities have expressed concern that most members of the cult are youths aged between 19 and 30, describing the trend as disturbing. “These are the most productive years of their lives,” a police spokesperson said. “Instead of being in school or learning trades, they are being lured into deception, fraud and fetish activities in the pursuit of quick wealth.” More recently, in May 2026, police in Sokoto arrested four suspected members of a counterfeiting syndicate linked to the Sai Mallam cult group, recovering counterfeit currencies, charms, fake gold stones, and a “magic box” allegedly used in producing fake money.

In his remarks, DIG Suleiman Muhammad Abdul emphasized that security agencies need to profile the new group before it gains ground and becomes a monster. He called for increased focus on waterways and riverine areas to block channels through which criminals distribute weapons. “What I will say here is this: please, trust us. If you have any information, share it with us. Whatever you do in the interest of security is protecting and defending your communities. Be free to tell us what we need to do,” the DIG appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders. The DIG addressed concerns about police personnel welfare, noting that “Policemen earn higher salaries than soldiers, but soldiers are being paid allowances which are not accruing to the Police.” He disclosed that the police management team has presented a proposal awaiting approval that would guarantee the sponsorship of four children each of all fallen policemen who died in active service, from nursery to secondary school. DIG Abdul commended officers for recent operational successes against criminal elements, noting that the wellbeing of policemen and their families is of paramount importance to the Inspector-General, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

In his remarks, Governor Nasir Idris, represented by Permanent Secretary Kabir Adamu, said that the state government had distributed several vehicles, motorcycles, and other equipment to security agencies to boost their morale towards restoring peace across the state. He emphasized the critical role traditional rulers could play in securing the state, stressing that collaboration among sister agencies and intelligence sharing would boost security. Ribah added that Mobile Police had been deployed to Danko-Wasagu to curtail the infiltration of bandits.

Sai Mallam Sect: Kebbi Authorities Confirm Presence of New Terror Group in Argungu