Two children die in fire incident | Mob sets ‘motorcycle thief’ ablaze in Bauchi

Zainab Mohammed, an 8-year-old; and Ummu Mohammed, a 5-year-old; have been confirmed dead following a fire incident in the Madina area of Bauchi metropolis.

In a statement on Monday, Ahmed Wakil, police spokesperson in the state, said a team from the divisional police headquarters ‘C’, alongside a federal fire service team, promptly rushed to the scene of the fire following a distress call.

Wakil said the fire’s severity had caused the two siblings to sustain serious burns, leaving their bodies completely unrecognisable before they were declared dead.

He added that in another incident, a suspected motorcycle thief was apprehended by an angry mob at Magamar Gumau market, Toro LGA of the state.

Wakil said the mob beat up the suspect to death and set him ablaze.

“The body of the suspect was rushed to Toro General Hospital, where it was certified dead by a medical doctor,” the spokesperson added.

Wakil said Auwal Musa, commissioner of police (CP) in Bauchi, condemned the “barbaric act” and emphasised that lawlessness in the state would not be tolerated.

Musa reiterated that no citizen has the right to take laws into their hands, adding that it is wrong for anyone to assume the role of law enforcement agencies.

The police commissioner assured the public that a discreet investigation into the incident would be conducted, with a view to arresting and bringing the perpetrators of the lynching to justice.

The CP urged the public to remain calm and assured them that investigations into both incidents will be given priority.