The Delta State Police Command said it has launched a manhunt for the killers of a woman identified as Mrs. Afornughe, who was lynched and set ablaze by a mob in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on Wednesday after the deceased was accused of attempting to kidnap a boy allegedly found hidden in a sack. Eyewitnesses said the mob attacked her in rage, ignoring pleas to allow law enforcement handle the case.
Spokesman of the Command, SP Bright Edafe, condemned the act, describing it as lawlessness. He assured that the police would ensure the perpetrators face justice, stressing that “nobody has the monopoly of violence.”
Community residents noted that recent child abduction incidents had heightened tension in Agbarho, fuelling mob justice against suspected kidnappers.
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However, the killing has sparked outrage. A youth leader and cleric, Ambrose Germany, dismissed the allegations, describing the deceased as innocent. He revealed that Afornughe was a known watermelon seller, a church member, and someone struggling with mild mental health issues.
“We know her story, we know her struggles, and we know she was innocent,” he wrote in a Facebook post, adding that her husband, an offshore worker, had just resumed duty before the tragedy occurred.
The police have appealed for calm, assuring that investigations are ongoing.
