The family of Khadijah, a middle-aged woman brutally lynched by a mob in Ilorin, Kwara State, has cried out for justice, insisting she was falsely accused of child kidnapping despite suffering from a long-term mental illness.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Thursday morning in the Ipata area of Ilorin, has sparked outrage, with the family and rights advocates demanding that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
According to her relatives, Khadijah had battled a brain-related illness for decades, which worsened after the death of her parents. In her struggle for survival, she was forced to beg for food and money despite her family’s support.
“She had been battling health issues for many years, during which our parents passed away. Khadijah left behind children, and sometimes, out of hunger, she would beg for food or money before returning home. She did not deserve this cruel death,” one of her grieving sisters narrated in tears.
The family lamented that the mob acted on baseless suspicion, ignoring her vulnerable condition, and denied her the dignity every human being deserves.
“We are calling on the government to come to our aid so that she will not die in vain. Those who perpetrated this evil act must be apprehended. We want justice for Khadijah,” the sister pleaded.
An elder in the family also condemned the mob action, describing it as barbaric and a dangerous sign of societal breakdown.
“She was not an evil woman. She was ill, not a criminal. The government must take decisive action against those who carried out this act. If justice is not served, those responsible will never know peace,” he warned.
The family further appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally intervene, ensure justice, and prevent similar tragedies from reoccurring in Kwara and across Nigeria.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi. According to the police, the victim was seen loitering in the area when residents, acting on misinformation, accused her of being a kidnapper.
“An irate crowd descended on her, inflicting severe injuries. Police patrol teams raced to the scene, rescued her, and rushed her to the General Hospital in Ilorin. Sadly, doctors confirmed her death. Her body has since been deposited in the mortuary,” the statement read.
The Command assured that investigations have begun and vowed that those behind the mob action would be brought to book.
Khadijah’s killing adds to Nigeria’s disturbing wave of mob justice, where innocent people are wrongly accused and killed without trial. Human rights advocates argue that the rise of such cases reflects deep mistrust in law enforcement, misinformation, and a culture of instant justice that continues to claim innocent lives.
For Khadijah’s family, the wound is deep, and only justice can begin to heal it.
“She was not a kidnapper, she was a mother, a sister, and a human being battling illness,” the family said in unison, their voices heavy with grief.
PIONEER NEWS 