The family of Malama Ummulkhair, an Islamiyya teacher who was brutally lynched and set ablaze by a mob in Maraban Jos, located in Kaduna State’s Igabi Local Government Area, has spoken about the tragic events that led to her death after she was wrongly accused of child theft.
According to reports, the mother of four was heading to an Islamic lecture on Sunday when allegations began circulating that she had stolen children.
The rumours quickly spread through the community, drawing a large crowd and triggering a violent chain of events. Although she was briefly placed in police custody, the intervention failed to prevent the attack.
Final plea amid chaos
Witnesses at the scene said tensions continued to rise as efforts to shield her from the growing crowd proved unsuccessful, Vanguard reported.
“Please, I need water,” she was heard pleading during the turmoil, as efforts to calm the situation broke down.
Village head recounts failed rescue effort
The Village Head of New Maraban Jos, Suleiman Isa, revealed that he immediately went to the scene after receiving an urgent call for help and attempted to defuse the situation, but the crowd eventually became impossible to control.
He said: “A friend of mine, who is the husband of the woman, called me and told me what was happening. People accused her of stealing children while she was on her way to an Islamic school to attend a preaching session,”
Isa explained that despite several attempts to save her, the mob remained unruly even after she had been taken to the police station.
“I was with her Islamic teacher, who also came to the police station to plead with the crowd, but they refused to listen,” he said.
Husband describes heartbreak and loss
The deceased’s husband, Aliyu Mohammed, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, maintaining that his wife was innocent and had been falsely accused.
“I am confused and heartbroken because she did nothing wrong. She was an Islamic teacher and was simply on her way to attend a religious lecture when people stopped her and accused her of stealing children,”
Mohammed said he was at work when he was informed about the allegation against his wife and rushed back, only to arrive too late to prevent the tragedy.
“She was falsely accused and then killed, leaving me alone with our children. What pains me most now is that I am left alone with the children,” he said.
The killing has drawn widespread condemnation from community leaders and religious figures, who have called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
They also urged authorities to strengthen efforts aimed at preventing future cases of mob violence as investigations into the incident continue.
