The Kwara State Police Command has strongly denounced the mob action that led to the death of a destitute woman wrongly accused of being a kidnapper in Ilorin, the state capital.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning around 9:00 a.m. at the busy Ipata Market.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Command explained that, “Information received that a woman, suspected to be destitute, was sighted wandering around the community; misinformed members of the public wrongly suspected her to be a kidnapper.”
According to the police, the false alarm triggered chaos as an angry mob pounced on the woman, inflicting severe injuries on her.
Ejire-Adeyemi added, “In the ensuing circumstances, an irate mob descended on the woman, inflicting serious bodily harm. Upon swift mobilization, 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.”
The Command described the action as unacceptable, stressing that jungle justice undermines the rule of law and endangers innocent lives.
It also warned that mob attacks cannot address security concerns but instead aggravate insecurity and compromise public safety.
The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, urged citizens to exercise restraint and embrace lawful channels for addressing suspicions.
He advised, “Members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and to always report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police formation.”
He further appealed to residents to cooperate with security agencies in promoting peace and justice while rejecting all forms of mob violence.