Tension gripped Agbarho community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday as an angry mob lynched a woman accused of attempting to steal a 7-year-old boy.
Eyewitnesses claimed the woman, said to be from Ughelli town, was caught in the act before being dragged into the street.
She was beaten and later set ablaze by the mob.
Despite pleas from a few residents to hand the suspect over to the police, the mob ignored them and went ahead with the jungle justice.
The incident comes just days after residents of Ughelli staged a mass protest over rising child abduction cases.
Protesters had appealed to the state government and security agencies to step up action.
One resident who spoke anonymously said, “This is the reality we are living in. Our children are no longer safe. We raised alarm a few days ago, and now this woman was caught.”
Parents in Agbarho and nearby communities have since restricted the movement of their children following reports of repeated abduction attempts.
As of press time, the remains of the lynched suspect were yet to be evacuated from the roadside.
The Delta Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said he would confirm whether any arrests had been made.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Barr.
Jaro Egbo, announced a ₦5 million reward for information that could lead to the recovery of missing children in Agbarho.
Egbo, who received the Special Adviser to the Governor on Intelligence Gathering and Boundary Matters, Apostle Sunny Jero, stressed that security remained his administration’s top priority.
He vowed that all measures would be taken to ensure the safe return of missing children.
Apostle Jero also urged collaboration between local government chairmen, councillors, and security agencies to prevent further crisis in Delta communities.
The mob action adds to growing fears across the state, where child theft cases have left residents worried and security agencies under pressure to act.