Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned what it described as the increasing threat of mob violence and jungle justice in northern Nigeria following an incident in Katsina State, where a crowd reportedly surrounded a court demanding the extrajudicial execution of a defendant accused of blasphemy.
In a statement released on Friday, the rights group said the incident took place on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in the Kofar Soro area of Katsina town, describing it as a dangerous attack on the rule of law and the justice system.
According to the organisation, a large group of children and young men, allegedly armed with different weapons, besieged the court and called for the immediate execution of the accused without allowing due legal process.
Amnesty International stressed that Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, not mob justice, warning that such actions threaten the constitutional right of every accused person to a fair trial regardless of the nature of the allegations.
The organisation linked the incident to the recent killing of Ummulkhairi, a teacher and mother of five who was reportedly set ablaze by a mob in Mararabar Jos, Kaduna State, about 10 days earlier over claims that she attempted to abduct children.
It noted that the latest development reflects a growing disregard for due process and rising lawlessness in some parts of northern Nigeria.
Amnesty also raised concern over reports that the crowd, largely made up of children and young men, carried dangerous weapons including machetes, spears, iron rods, daggers, bows and arrows, knives, and broken bottles while demanding the accused person’s death.
The organisation described the involvement of children in the incident as troubling, stressing that they should be in school or learning vocational skills rather than taking part in violent mob actions.
It called on the Katsina State Government and security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible for inciting or participating in the attempted mob action are brought to justice.
Amnesty International maintained that justice must always be pursued through lawful judicial processes and not through violence or any form of extrajudicial punishment.
Mob violence and acts of jungle justice have remained a recurring challenge in parts of northern Nigeria, where accusations ranging from blasphemy to theft and child abduction have, in several cases, led to violent attacks without recourse to the courts.
Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that such incidents weaken public confidence in the justice system and encourage lawlessness, as suspects are often denied the constitutional right to fair hearing.
In recent years, a number of high-profile mob killings have sparked national outrage, with activists calling on authorities to strengthen law enforcement and public awareness on due process.
The latest incident in Katsina State has once again drawn attention to the dangers of mob action, particularly amid growing concerns over the involvement of young people and the increasing disregard for legal procedures in handling sensitive allegations.
