Mob burns woman to death in Niger state over alleged blasphemy

Monday, September 1, 2025 - A mob has reportedly burnt a woman, simply identified as Amaye to death in the Kasuwan-Garba town in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The woman who was a restaurant owner was said to have made comments considered offensive while interacting with a customer in her restaurant.

The customer reportedly proposed marriage to her jokingly, citing the tradition of the Prophet, after which she made the alleged blasphemous remarks.

She was said to be first taken to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwan-Garba, who then handed her over to security operatives for investigation.

However, the mob overwhelmed the security operatives and lynched her.

Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Command said it has begun an investigation into the matter.

The State Police Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement issued in Minna, disclosed that the tragic incident occurred on 30th August, 2025, at about 2:00pm.

He said a report was received that one Amaye, a female resident of Kasuwan-Garba in Mariga LGA, allegedly made some utterances considered offensive to the Islamic faith.

According to him, the deceased’s comments quickly provoked anger among members of the community.

“Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and the woman was set ablaze before the reinforcement of security teams could arrive at the scene,” Abiodun stated.

He noted that while normalcy has since been restored to the area, the Police Command strongly condemned the act of jungle justice and assured that efforts are underway to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved in the crime.

The Command’s spokesman appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid taking laws into their own hands, and allow security agencies to handle sensitive matters in line with the provisions of the law.

The incident has sparked concerns among residents and human rights advocates over the recurring trend of mob actions in parts of the country, with calls for more proactive measures to prevent a breakdown of law and order.