Katsina mob attack: Standard in Nigeria is rule of law, not jungle justice – Amnesty
Amnesty International Reports Rise in Mob Violence in Northern Nigeria
KATSINA, Nigeria — Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the increasing prevalence of mob violence, commonly referred to as “jungle justice,” in northern Nigeria, following a disturbing incident in Katsina state. The human rights organization issued a statement on Friday, detailing an event that occurred on July 1, 2026, in the Kofar Soro area of Katsina town, where a crowd besieged a courthouse demanding the extrajudicial execution of a defendant accused of blasphemy.
Eyewitness reports from Amnesty International indicate that a large group of children and young men, reportedly armed with various weapons, surrounded the court, calling for the accused to be executed without due legal process.
“The standard in Nigeria is the rule of law, not ‘jungle justice’,” the organization stated in its release. They warned that such actions erode constitutional guarantees of a fair trial, regardless of the allegations against an individual.
The incident in Katsina has been linked to a recent and similar tragedy in which a teacher, Ummulkhairi, was reportedly killed by a mob in Mararabar Jos, Kaduna State, about ten days prior. She was allegedly burned to death over accusations of attempting to abduct children.
Amnesty International expressed concern about the apparent decline in respect for due process and the rising lawlessness in northern Nigeria. The organization highlighted that the crowd, consisting predominantly of young individuals, was armed with machetes, spears, iron rods, sledgehammers, broken bottles, daggers, bows and arrows, and knives, while demanding the death of the accused.
The involvement of children in such incidents is particularly alarming, according to the rights group, as these youths should be engaged in educational or vocational pursuits rather than acts of mob violence.
Amnesty International called on the Katsina state government and relevant law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. They emphasized the need for accountability for those who incited or participated in the attempted mob action.
The organization reaffirmed that justice must be sought through lawful judicial processes rather than through violence or extrajudicial measures.