By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Prominent Christian leaders from Northern Nigeria on Monday visited the family of the late Ummulkhairi Usman Aliyu, a Muslim woman who died after a mob attack in Maraban Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, amid allegations that she attempted to abduct children.
The delegation, led by Chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, included the Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Caleb Ma’aji, and the President of the Kaduna Baptist Conference, Rev. Ishaya Adamu Jangado.
Speaking during the condolence visit, Hayab condemned mob violence and urged authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. He said compassion, justice and respect for human life should transcend religious and ethnic differences.
“Nigeria should never become a place where citizens take the law into their own hands. Every Nigerian deserves a fair hearing under the law,” he said.The bereaved husband, Malam Aliyu Mohammed, who spoke by telephone from hospital, thanked the Christian leaders for their support and described the visit as a demonstration of shared humanity beyond religious boundaries.
According to community accounts cited by the family and local Islamic clerics, the deceased was on her way to an Islamic lecture when children reportedly raised an alarm, leading to accusations that she was attempting to abduct them. The claims have been disputed by her family and clerics, who maintain that she was innocent.
Police said a crowd later overpowered officers at a nearby station where the woman had been taken into protective custody, after which she was killed. Kaduna State authorities have condemned the incident, while security agencies say suspects have been arrested and investigations are ongoing.
