Police Confirm Death of Woman Lynched Over False Kidnap Allegation in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the death of a woman who was lynched by a mob in Ilorin on Thursday morning following false claims that she was a kidnapper.

Police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. in the Ipata area of Ilorin.

According to the statement, the woman, suspected to be destitute, was sighted loitering in the community when residents, acting on misinformation, accused her of attempting to abduct a child. An irate crowd descended on her and inflicted severe injuries before police intervention.

“Upon swift mobilisation, police patrol teams raced to the scene, rescued the victim and rushed her to the General Hospital, Ilorin, for urgent medical attention. Regrettably, the attending doctor confirmed her dead as a result of injuries sustained. Her remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary, while discreet investigation has commenced,” Ejire-Adeyemi stated.

The Command strongly condemned the act of jungle justice, warning that such actions undermine the rule of law and put innocent lives at risk. “Security challenges cannot be resolved through mob action. Rather, they worsen insecurity and erode public safety,” the statement added.

Ejire-Adeyemi further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, has urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and to always channel reports of suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police formation instead of taking the law into their own hands.

The tragic incident comes amid recurring cases of mob justice in Ilorin. Barely three months ago, a man narrowly escaped lynching in the city after being accused of attempting to kidnap a child, but was rescued by the police.

Earlier on Thursday, SaharaReporters reported that the woman had been apprehended at the popular Ipata Market after being accused of attempting to abduct a child, with four ATM cards and some documents allegedly recovered from her. Police, however, dismissed the claims as false and reiterated that preliminary findings showed she was a destitute wrongly targeted by an angry crowd.