Mentally Unwell Woman Nearly Lynched For Fatally Stabbing 14-Year-Old

On Tuesday, April 20 a lynch mob attacked a middle-aged woman after she reportedly stabbed a teenage boy to death. 14-year-old Joseph Thomas, a resident of Bayelsa State, Nigeria was in his home when he was attacked. Neighbors and the deceased’s grandmother spoke about the incident. Police had to intervene to prevent a mob from lynching the accused. They continue to fear for her safety as she remains in police custody.

The woman, who is reportedly an Enugu State indigene, was known to preach the gospel along the Okaka road. Residents near Genesis Street, off Okaka road, knew that the woman regularly arrived there early in the morning.

The Nation reported that a local identified as Panebi confirmed the woman’s presence in her usual spot on the day of the attack. The witness said that locals noticed the woman with her bible walking around in the area. However, unlike other days the woman had a knife with her. She reportedly had been charging at passersby with the knife.

After a while, the woman reportedly went to Thomas’ home. She knocked down the door and entered the home, Emmanuel’s Blog reported. She dragged the teenager out onto the street before stabbing him multiple times.

The teen’s grandmother, identified as Modlyn, confirmed that her grandson was in their home during the attack. She said that she had gone out to run some errands. She heard that the woman was looking for her so that she could kill her. Fearing for her life, the victim’s grandmother hid in a neighbor’s home. Soon she heard them say that the mentally unstable woman had stabbed her grandson to death.

Reports claim that the woman also attacked another teen but he escaped with a stab wound.

When local youths realized what was had happened, they mobbed the woman. They pelted her with stones and hit her with planks. The police arrived, dispersing the mob and taking the accused into custody.

Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said that the woman had been taken to a hospital for treatment. Security at the hospital was increased as there are fears that the teen’s death would be avenged by the locals. Dise Ogbise of the DO Foundation said that the woman needs to be punished for the teen’s murder. The president of the organization, that fights against domestic violence and violence against children, believes the accuses is falsely pleading insanity.

Investigation into the incident continues.