A woman was set ablaze yesterday in Bauchi State, for refusing to submit herself for security checks at the Muda Lawal Market.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident, saying: “Information at our disposal revealed that a yet to be identified lady who allegedly refused to allow herself to be screened at the entrance of Muda Lawal Market Bauchi was attacked by irate mob who took law into their hands and set her ablaze. She died before rescue could come”.
Mohammed said police patrol teams including the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit rushed to the scene, dispersed the crowd and restored normalcy. He said the case was under investigation and that intensive patrol was ongoing in the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order and arrest those behind the incident.
Mohammed warned members of the public against taking laws into their hands, saying anyone caught would be arrested and dealt with.
A witness who spoke to Daily Trust said: “When the woman came, she came in company of a man who claimed to be a soldier. The officials told them that if she wants to enter the market she must be screened and they refused. An argument ensued and it attracted passersby, who removed her veil. When they did that, they saw tied two bottles tied to her back and immediately descended on her. They then put a tyre round her neck and set her ablaze. They though she was a suicide bomber and the man who accompanied her ran away”.
