A woman narrowly escaped death in Port Harcourt after an angry mob descended on her over a false allegation of child theft, highlighting the growing dangers of jungle justice in Rivers State.
The victim, identified as Maria Kobara, was rescued by operatives of the Azikiwe Police Division on Saturday at Owo Street, Mile 2, Diobu, after residents accused her of attempting to abduct a 12-year-old girl, reports The Guardian.
Investigations later revealed that the allegation was entirely false, as the child’s mother had personally entrusted her daughter to Kobara to accompany her to a church branch on Eagle Island.
Eyewitnesses said the incident began when a woman stopped Kobara and questioned her relationship with the child.
Although Kobara repeatedly explained that she had the mother’s permission to take the girl to church, suspicions quickly escalated.
Before efforts to verify her claims could be concluded, a crowd gathered and began physically assaulting her, accusing her of being a child trafficker.
“It all happened very fast,” said Nelson Ogiriya, who witnessed the incident. “People refused to listen to explanations and immediately concluded she was a child thief. They started beating her before the police intervened.”
Police spokesperson, ASP Agabe Karbolo Blessing, confirmed that officers arrived in time to save the woman from the enraged crowd.
According to her, a relative of the girl’s father had raised an alarm that attracted passers-by and residents, many of whom joined in attacking the woman without establishing the facts.
“The mob ignored every explanation offered by the woman and proceeded to assault her,” ASP Agabe said. “When all parties were brought to the station, the child’s mother confirmed that she had indeed authorized the woman to take her daughter to church.”
The police spokesperson described the incident as a disturbing example of the dangers of taking the law into one’s hands.
She warned that while residents should remain vigilant against crime, suspicion alone does not justify violence against individuals.
“The command strongly condemns mob action and jungle justice. Such acts will not be tolerated, and anyone found participating in unlawful attacks on suspects will be prosecuted,” she stated.
The incident adds to growing concerns over the prevalence of mob justice in parts of the state, where suspects are often attacked before investigations are conducted.
Police urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies and allow law enforcement authorities to handle investigations, stressing that innocent lives could be lost when unverified allegations are allowed to fuel public anger.
