A young man identified as Ahmad Dankoli was allegedly lynched by an angry mob over accusations of motorcycle theft in Balare town, Ajingi Local Government Area.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday night, reportedly ended with the victim’s body being set ablaze despite efforts by security personnel to prevent the mob action.
Confirming the development, the councillor representing Balare Ward, Malam Shu’aibu Abdulmumin Yalo, said the incident happened shortly after 9 p.m. on the community’s market day.
According to him, the deceased was accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle belonging to a trader who had visited the market.
Yalo explained that the suspect was allegedly caught by a man who noticed him trying to take the motorcycle, after which a crowd gathered and began assaulting him until he died.
He said security operatives later arrived at the scene in an attempt to restore order and evacuate the body.
However, the officers were reportedly overpowered by a large group of angry youths, who seized the corpse and set it on fire.
The councillor attributed the mob’s reaction to the growing incidence of motorcycle theft in the area, revealing that more than 32 motorcycles had reportedly been stolen from the market in recent months.
He added that the incident threw the community into panic, forcing traders to abandon the market on Sunday night, while normal commercial activities resumed the following day.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the incident had not yet been officially reported to the command.
He, however, assured that the police would verify the information and commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.