A young man, Ahmad Dankoli, was reportedly lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob after being accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle in Balare community, Ajingi Local Government Area.
The incident reportedly occurred around 9 p.m. on Sunday during the community’s weekly market, when the area was crowded with traders and residents.
According to reports, Dankoli was severely beaten before the mob set him on fire, despite efforts by security personnel to stop the attack.
The councillor representing Balare Ward, Shu’aibu Abdulmumin Yalo, confirmed the incident, stating that the deceased was accused of trying to steal a motorcycle belonging to a trader at the market.
Yalo said the suspect attempted to flee after being confronted but was eventually caught by the crowd.
“The crowd accused him of attempting to steal a motorcycle. Although he tried to escape, they caught up with him and set him on fire,” he said.
He added that security operatives responded to the scene after receiving reports of the attack but were overwhelmed by the large number of people present.
“Security operatives came to intervene, but the number of people at the scene was too much for them to control,” Yalo explained.
The councillor attributed the mob’s actions to repeated incidents of motorcycle theft at the weekly market, noting that growing frustration among residents may have fueled the violent response.
He did not confirm whether anyone had been arrested in connection with the killing.
Residents described Dankoli as an active supporter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s Kwankwasiyya movement on social media.
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation online, with many calling for a thorough investigation and urging authorities to tackle the growing trend of mob justice in Nigeria.
The killing comes less than two weeks after another mob attack in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, where a woman identified as Ummulkhairi was allegedly burned to death over false accusations of child theft.
The latest tragedy has renewed calls from security experts and human rights advocates for suspected offenders to be handed over to law enforcement agencies rather than subjected to extrajudicial violence.