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

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.

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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