- Mob violence in Niger State follows motorcycle accident
- AK-47 rifles and ammunition discovered at crash scene
- Police condemn jungle justice, order investigation
- Victim lynched while being rescued to hospital
An incident of mob lynching in Niger State has sparked outrage after an accident victim was beaten to death when AK-47 rifles and ammunition were discovered at a crash scene in Gurara Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on Thursday, February 19, at the Boyi Sariki Toll Gate in Gawu Babangida, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, following a motorcycle accident involving two unidentified men.
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Eyewitnesses said the motorcycle crashed into a road construction diversion barrier, killing one of the riders instantly. While residents and passersby attempted to rescue the second victim, a sack found with the men reportedly contained three AK-47 rifles, six magazines, and 104 rounds of ammunition.
The discovery immediately triggered panic and anger among the crowd, leading to the lynching of the surviving accident victim before he could be taken to the hospital.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the accident actually occurred on February 17, 2026, at about 9:50 p.m.
According to him, the two men were travelling from Tafa area of Kaduna State toward the Abuja axis when they ran into the diversion barrier.
“A police patrol team moved to the scene alongside members of the public to assist the victims. During a search of a sack recovered from them, three AK-47 rifles with six magazines and 104 ammunition were found,” Abiodun said.
He added that while one victim died instantly, the second was attacked and killed by the mob during efforts to evacuate him to a hospital. The bodies were later deposited at the Suleja General Hospital morgue.
The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, strongly condemned the act of jungle justice, describing it as unlawful and counterproductive to security efforts.
“The suspect could have provided vital information to help trace the source of the firearms,” the commissioner said.
Elleman ordered the Area Commander in Suleja to conduct a thorough investigation, arrest all those involved in the lynching, and ensure the recovered rifles undergo ballistic analysis.