Mob Set Food Seller Ablaze In Niger Over Alleged Blasphemous Utterance

Before security reinforcement could arrive, a lady named Ammaye, was burnt to death by a mob in Niger State over an alleged blasphemous utterance against the Islamic faith.
Ammaye, a food seller, was lynched and set ablaze in Mariga Local Government Area of the state by suspected angry youths over alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad,
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at Kasuwan Garba in the council area, when the lady, a Muslim faithful and well-known food seller, was said to have engaged in an exchange of words with a young man said to be her nephew.
The young man was said to have jokingly told Ammaye that he wanted to marry her to “fulfil the Sunnah”. The lady was said to have made comments considered blasphemous.
This was said to have outraged the young men in the neighbourhood. The matter was taken to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwan Garba, where the lady was interrogated, and she allegedly repeated what she had earlier said.
The District Head was said to have handed Ammaye over to security operatives for further investigation, but a crowd of agitated youths overpowered the security operatives, insisting on her immediate execution.
The Niger State Police Command Public relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, 31 August, 2025, said efforts are ongoing to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved in the crime.
According to Abiodun, the tragic incident occurred on 30th August, 2025, at about 2:00 pm.
“A report was received that one Amaye, a female resident of Kasuwan-Garba in Mariga LGA, allegedly made some utterances considered offensive to the Islamic faith. Her comments quickly provoked anger among members of the community.
“Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack, and the woman was set ablaze before the reinforcement of security teams could arrive at the scene,” Abiodun stated.
The state police-image –maker, who said that while normalcy has since been restored to the area, added that the Police Command strongly condemns the act of jungle justice and assured that efforts are underway to identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved in the crime.
Abiodun appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and allow security agencies to handle sensitive matters in line with the provisions of the law.