Nasarawa Police Confirm Mob Lynching of Man Accused of Killing Boy and Removing Eyes
The Nasarawa State Police Command has officially confirmed the tragic lynching of a man identified as Samalia Zaria by an enraged mob in Keffi town. The mob accused Zaria of the brutal killing of a young boy and the gruesome removal of his eyes, sparking a violent confrontation that escalated rapidly.
Details of the Incident in Keffi Town
According to police reports, the incident unfolded in the Tsohon Kasuwa area of Keffi on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The victim of the mob action, Samalia Zaria, was previously employed as a guard at the Keffi Emirate Palace but had been relieved of his duties earlier. The body of the boy, identified as Aliyu Muhammadu Lawal, was discovered in a pit in a neighboring compound, with his eyes removed, neck cut, and signs of strangulation.
Sources indicate that members of a local vigilante group initially arrested Zaria and took him into custody. However, an angry crowd reportedly overpowered the vigilantes, vandalized their office, and lynched the suspect before security operatives could arrive on the scene. The situation deteriorated further when police officers who rushed to the location were also attacked by the mob, resulting in injuries to some officers and damage to police vehicles.
Police Response and Investigation
The spokesperson for the Nasarawa State Police Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed these details in a statement issued on Friday. He explained that police received a distress call around 12:30 PM from vigilante commander Dogara Garba, reporting the arrest of a suspect in connection with the boy's killing. Before police could intervene, the crowd had already taken matters into their own hands.
SP Nansel stated, "Before they arrived, the suspect had been killed and set ablaze. And the mob attacked the police too, injuring some of the police officers and shattered some of the vehicles. The police was able to douse the tension and evacuated the suspect that was killed and burned to the hospital." The police team, led by the Divisional Police Officer, later restored calm, evacuated the burnt body, and deposited it at the General Hospital in Keffi. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding both deaths.
Community Reactions and Calls for Justice
The father of the deceased boy, Muhammadu Lawal, shared that he had previously had a dispute with the suspect over alleged noise disturbances at night. He expressed uncertainty about whether this disagreement was connected to his son's death, stating, "I cannot say if our past disagreement is connected to what happened to my son. I leave that to God." He recounted the harrowing discovery of his son's body in the pit.
A traditional title holder in Keffi, Yahaya Ladan Shafale, who holds the title of Kakakin Sarkin Keffi, confirmed that the Emirate had distanced itself from the suspect, noting that Zaria was no longer working with the palace. He condemned the killing of the teenager, describing the incident as shocking and unprecedented in the town. "We condemn this incident, which we have never witnessed in our community. Keffi is a historic town and we pray such will not happen again," he added.
Residents of Keffi have called for justice in the wake of this tragedy, urging authorities to ensure that those responsible for the mob action are brought to book. The incident has highlighted concerns about vigilante justice and public safety in the area.
