The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspects over the death of a 30-year-old man, Abubakar Auwal, in what officials described as an alleged case of mob action in the Sheka area of Kano metropolis.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the incident occurred on July 24, 2026, following reports that the victim was accused of having an affair with a married woman.
Kiyawa said Police received a distress call at about 12:00 p.m. and officers from the Sheka Police Division responded immediately.
“On arrival, the victim was found to have been brutally assaulted and beaten into a comatose state,” the statement said.
The three suspects arrested were Abubakar Ali, 40, Sulaiman Lawan, 27, and Hafsat Umar, 22. Police said the allegations involved Ali’s wife.
The victim was rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, but was confirmed dead by doctors. His body has been deposited at the mortuary for an autopsy.
The Kano Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, condemned the incident and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.
“He warns members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands under any guise. The Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to investigate, arrest, and prosecute offenders through due process,” Kiyawa quoted the CP as saying.
Security analysts say mob actions have remained a challenge in parts of Kano despite repeated Police warnings. In 2025, the Kano Police Command said it recorded over 15 cases of jungle justice across the state.
Legal experts note that under Nigerian law, those involved in mob killings can face murder charges, which carry capital punishment.
Residents of Sheka who spoke on condition of anonymity called for more community policing to prevent similar incidents.
The Police said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
