Tension gripped the Rafinseyi area of Suleja, Niger State, on Friday after a middle-aged mechanic was lynched by a mob of commercial motorcyclists following a false accusation of theft.
According to reports, the incident began near the Madalla area when the victim, driving his vehicle, accidentally struck a pedestrian. Instead of stopping, he continued driving, an action that reportedly triggered suspicion and panic among nearby motorcyclists.
Some of the riders began shouting “Barawo! Barawo!” (Hausa for Thief) which prompted other riders to join in a high-speed pursuit, believing a criminal was fleeing.
“The man had hit someone but didn’t stop. That’s when some riders started shouting he was a thief. Others quickly joined the chase,” a witness said.
The chase continued into the Rafinseyi area, where the mob caught up with the mechanic. He was violently attacked and ultimately killed on the spot. Witnesses said the crowd celebrated afterward, convinced they had caught a thief.
Tragically, the person initially hit by the vehicle reportedly survived the accident. It remains unclear why the mechanic failed to stop at the scene, a decision that may have contributed to the fatal misunderstanding.
Local residents later identified the victim as a known mechanic in the area. His death has sparked outrage and renewed concern over the rise of mob justice in Nigeria, where baseless accusations often lead to deadly consequences.
