THE Delta State Police Command has launched a manhunt for those behind the brutal killing of a woman accused of attempting to kidnap a child in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area.
The victim, identified as Mrs Afornughe, was allegedly beaten and set ablaze by an irate mob on Wednesday after she was accused of hiding a young boy in a sack.
Witnesses said the mob descended on her in a frenzy, ignoring all pleas for restraint.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, said the command would not allow such lawlessness to go unpunished.
“No suspect has been arrested yet. We are on the trail of those who carried out the dastardly act. Nobody has the monopoly of violence, and no one should take the law into his own hands,” he warned.
Residents say Agbarho has in recent months been gripped by fear over frequent cases of child abduction, sparking local calls for “unconventional justice” against suspected kidnappers.
However, the mob action has drawn criticism. A youth leader and cleric, Ambrose Germany, condemned the killing in a Facebook post, insisting the victim was innocent.
According to him, Mrs Afornughe was a watermelon seller known in the community, a church member, and someone struggling with mild mental health challenges.
“We know her. We know she sells watermelon. We know the church she wedded in. We know she is a little mentally imbalanced. We know she is innocent. We know God is a righteous judge,” he wrote.
Germany also disclosed that Mrs Afornughe’s husband, an offshore worker, had only recently left for duty before tragedy struck.
The post further revealed that some residents recognised the victim during the mob attack but were too afraid to intervene as she was being lynched.
Police have urged calm in the community, stressing that investigations are ongoing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
