A woman has been lynched and set ablaze by a mob in Niger State, northern Nigeria, after being accused of making blasphemous remarks against Islam.
The victim, identified only as Ammaye, a local food seller in Mariga Local Government Area, was attacked on 30 August after a dispute with her nephew escalated into accusations of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
Eyewitnesses said the incident began when the young man jokingly told Ammaye he wanted to marry her “to fulfil the Sunnah”. Her response, deemed blasphemous by onlookers, quickly drew the anger of youths in the area.
She was taken before the District Head of Kasuwan Garba, who handed her over to security operatives for further questioning. But before reinforcements could arrive, a crowd overpowered the officials, stoning Ammaye to death and setting her body alight.
Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the killing, condemning it as an act of “jungle justice” and vowing that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted. “The Command strongly warns against taking the law into one’s hands. Such matters must be handled within the law,” he said.
The Chairman of Mariga Local Government, Abbas Adamu, also confirmed the attack, saying calm has since returned to the area.
The killing echoes other recent incidents in northern Nigeria. In 2022, student Deborah Samuel was beaten and burned alive in Sokoto State after being accused of blasphemy, while last year a butcher, Usman Buda, was stoned to death under similar circumstances.
Despite Nigeria’s constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech, blasphemy remains a deeply divisive issue, with critics warning that authorities are failing to prevent recurring mob violence targeting both Muslims and Christians.
