A 30-year-old member of a local vigilante group, Ahmad Usman, was lynched and burnt to death in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja over alleged blasphemy.
According to reports, the sad incident occurred at the Lugbe timber market section of fruit market in Federal Housing Estate and created panic and confusion in the area.
The mob action took place around 1pm on Saturday after Usman sought refuge in the vigilante office in the market.
Findings revealed that the local security outfit was overpowered before Usman was killed in front of the office and set ablaze.
An eyewitness who spoke with The Nation, John Adelowo, said, “He (Usman) was caught buying food in the market in the afternoon. When the blasphemy occurred there were few people that were there and a stick was used to hit him in the head.
“After that, he was stoned before he ran into the office. His colleagues at the office could not protect him due to the number of people that chased him. After he was unconscious, petrol was poured on him. He was burnt in front of the office”.
FCT Police spokesman DSP Josephine Adeh confirmed the development.
She said police have commenced investigation into what led to the incident.
Adeh, in a statement, explained: “Today 4th of June 2022 at about 13:00hrs, one Ahmad Usman a 30years old member of the local vigilante around Tippa garage at Federal Housing Estate in Lugbe Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) got into an argument with a Cleric (Malam) whose name is yet unknown from the same area. The heated argument degenerated into an outbreak of violence that led to the murder and setting ablaze of Ahmad Usman by the enraged mob mobilized by the clergy numbering about Two hundred (200).
“Upon the receipt of this information, a quick intervention team comprising of The Surveillance and Ambush team of the Command attached to the Lugbe Divisional Police Headquarters was drafted to the scene where the enflamed victim was rescued suffering severe degrees of burn and taken immediately to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a Doctor on call.
“Normalcy has since been restored to the situation, while monitoring and surveillance of the area continues. Residents are therefore urged to go about their lawful duties without fear or apprehension of any kind from any quarters as discrete investigation continues to unravel facts surrounding the ugly incident and to effect the arrest of the perpetrators therein.
“The Commissioner of Police CP Babaji Sunday, while warning against the indiscriminate act of self-help in obtaining justice known as Jungle justice, stated that adequate sanctions will be meted on subscribers of what he described as crude and dastardly act.
