Mob Justice, Banditry, Other Attacks Killed 382 Nigerians In July—NHRC

Communities across five states resorted to mob justice in July, beating and killing people over allegations of theft, criminality and witchcraft, as the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) documented a wave of violent deaths nationwide.

According to the NHRC July 2026 Human Rights Dashboard released recently, a young man was beaten to death in Rantiya, Jos South, Plateau after he was mistaken for Fulani.

In Kano, a man accused of motorcycle theft was lynched in Balare, while in Kaduna two travellers were beaten and killed in Birnin Yero after residents mistook them for criminals.

The data also reported that in Jigawa, a man accused of motorcycle theft was beaten and burnt to death in Birnin Kudu after escaping from a hospital bed, and in Bauchi a 30-year-old woman accused of witchcraft was hacked to death by three men in Garin Malam, Gamawa LGA.

The dashboard also recorded several gruesome murders.
In Ondo West, a woman was found dead with her head severed and parts of her body mutilated.

Also, in Plateau, the headless body of a middle-aged man was discovered on a farmland within the University of Jos premises, and the beheaded body of a woman was found in a refuse dump in Barkin Ladi.

Bandit attacks and farmer-herder clashes accounted for more deaths.

According to the data, gunmen abducted two farmers in Akoko South-East, Ondo, while bandits killed 23 farmers in Talata Mararafa, Zamfara.

Also, in Sokoto, three farmers were killed in Tsamaye village, Sabon Birni, and in Kaduna nine farmers were killed in Kakangi village, Birnin Gwari.

A 60-year-old man, Bulus Turu, was macheted to death on his way from the farm in Bokkos, Plateau.

The data also reported that one farmer was killed in a farmer-herder clash in Kwali, FCT.

In Niger, 18 people were killed in clashes in villages around Rafi, while in Benue bandits attacked Akpachi community and killed two farmers.

Also, in Kwara, a farmer was found with his hands tied behind and dumped on a farm in Isanlu.

The NHRC said 382 killings were recorded across Nigeria in July and called for stronger accountability for all stakeholders.