Kwara govt vows justice for woman lynched over kidnap allegation
Kwara State Government has pledged to pursue justice following the gruesome lynching of a woman wrongly accused of kidnapping in Ilorin.
The victim, identified as Khadijat, a resident of Ile Lase in the Oke-Apomu area of the metropolis, was attacked by a mob at Ipata Market last week after being falsely linked to kidnap activities.
Eyewitnesses said she was found in possession of four ATM cards, while her phone was smashed during the assault.
Despite efforts by the police to rescue her, Khadijat was rushed to the General Hospital, Ilorin, where she later died from severe injuries.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed that officers had been deployed to save the victim but she could not survive the attack.
Reacting, the Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, condemned the mob action, describing it as “barbaric, uncivilized, and unacceptable.” She warned that the government would not allow any form of jungle justice that threatens peace and order in the state.
“Taking the law into one’s hands is an act of incivility and will not be tolerated. Citizens are urged to report suspects to security agencies for proper investigation and prosecution under the law,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s family has demanded justice, insisting Khadijat was not a kidnapper but a long-time sufferer of ill health.
In a viral video, her younger sister tearfully recounted the struggles Khadijat faced.
“She left behind children, and we all supported her. At times, she had to beg for food. For decades, she battled serious health problems, the same illness that killed our parents’ lives,” she said.
The grieving relatives appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure those behind the attack are arrested and prosecuted.
“She must not die in vain. Those responsible for this wickedness must face justice. We want justice for Khadijat,” the family declared.
