Mob burns woman to death in northern Nigeria over alleged blasphemy

Abuja — A woman has been burned to death by a mob in Niger state after she was accused of blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad, state police said Saturday.

The victim, identified in local media as a food vendor called Amaye, was attacked in Kasuwan-Garba town, police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said. He described the killing as "jungle justice" and said an investigation was under way to arrest and prosecute those responsible.

Local media and eyewitnesses quoted by police said the incident followed a man jokingly proposing marriage to the vendor and her response being regarded by some people present as blasphemous. "Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and [she] was set ablaze before a reinforcement of security teams could arrive at the scene," Abiodun said, urging members of the public to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands.

Authorities said security forces were deploying to secure the area and pursue suspects. The police appeal emphasized that criminal allegations should be handled through legal channels rather than by vigilante action.

Human rights organisations have long warned that accusations of blasphemy can spark lethal mob violence in parts of northern Nigeria. Amnesty International said blasphemy allegations are often "weaponised to settle personal scores," a pattern that rights groups say contributes to extrajudicial killings and intimidation.

Twelve northern and mainly Muslim states in Nigeria operate a form of Islamic, or Sharia, law alongside the country's secular legal system. In those states, blasphemy is treated as a criminal offence, legal experts and rights groups say, and community responses to alleged offences can be swift and severe.

Such mob attacks are not uncommon in the region, local activists said, prompting repeated calls from both national authorities and international groups for stronger protection of suspects and better law enforcement responses to prevent vigilante justice.

The Niger state police statement did not give a precise number of people involved in the attack or report any arrests. Investigators will seek to determine how events escalated and who participated in the killing, the statement said.

The killing is likely to raise fresh concerns about communal tensions and the safety of vulnerable individuals, including traders and women, in areas where allegations of religious insult can rapidly trigger violent reprisals. Officials have reiterated that allegations of criminal conduct should be reported to police and handled through the courts.

Further updates are expected as investigators from the state command continue to gather evidence and pursue legal action against those identified in the attack.