A suspected child trafficker met a gruesome fate as an enraged mob in Lapai, the headquarters of Lapai Local Government area in Niger state, set him ablaze. The horrifying incident unfolded just before the Jumma’t prayer last Friday, revealing the deep-seated anger and frustration of the community.
The suspect, identified as Dule Sakon Kano, had been apprehended by locals while in possession of two young girls, aged four and five. Preliminary reports indicate that the children were about to be transported to an undisclosed location. The shocking revelation came during a brief interrogation by the mob, during which Kano confessed to his involvement in the despicable act of supplying stolen children to a shadowy figure within the vicinity.
For several months, Lapai town had been plagued by distressing incidents of children suddenly disappearing from their homes and surroundings. Frustration over the lack of progress in addressing these disappearances by law enforcement reportedly fueled the vigilante justice that unfolded on that fateful day.
Eyewitnesses recounted the chilling sequence of events. “The suspect, before meeting his fiery fate, admitted to his crime. He revealed that he was en route to deliver the abducted children to his associate. Angered by the continuous loss of children in the area and the absence of arrests by authorities, the community members took matters into their own hands.”
As the situation escalated, the suspect attempted to escape but was swiftly captured near the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) along the burial ground road. Dragged through the town, he met his end in a horrific manner, his body consumed by flames as a vengeful mob exacted their own justice.
By the time the police from Lapai arrived at the scene, the suspect’s charred remains were unrecognizable, and the mob had dispersed, leaving behind a grisly scene. The incident highlights the extent to which community frustration can manifest when justice is perceived to be absent, and the depths of depravity that individuals can sink to in their pursuit of criminal gains.
The lynching serves as a chilling reminder of the urgent need for local and national authorities to address child trafficking and abduction cases, while also reinforcing the critical role of effective law enforcement in preventing such tragic incidents from taking place.
