A 30-year-old man, Sunday Pada, was beaten and stabbed to death by a mob in the Korokpan area of Minna, Niger State, following allegations of theft. The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday, August 18.
Incident Details
According to Abiodun, an alarm was raised on August 10, 2026, accusing Pada of being a thief. A mob descended on him, beating him severely before stabbing him fatally. Police operatives attached to the Paiko Division were alerted and moved to the scene, but the suspects had fled before their arrival.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead. Abiodun noted that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Arrests and Investigation
Abiodun stated that three of the suspects were later discovered in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency following a raid in the area and were subsequently handed over to the police, while another suspect was arrested. He identified the suspects as Ibrahim Abubakar, Aliyu Onah, Godwin Musa, and Aminu Bawa, all residents of the Korokpan area of Minna.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the deceased was coming from a friend's house, and the suspects claimed that somebody raised an alarm, shouting "thief," thereby intercepting the said Sunday Pada, beating him seriously and later stabbing him to death, the PPRO said.
Legal Proceedings
Abiodun noted that the four suspects are under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna, for alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. The case highlights the ongoing issue of mob justice in Nigeria, where suspects are often attacked before police can intervene.
