Three persons accused of participating in an alleged act of jungle justice against a woman have been remanded in custody by the Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The defendants, identified in Charge No. 370C/2026 as Nwokedi Charles, Ekwunife Chidubem, and Okpala Chiamaka, were arraigned before the Abakaliki Magisterial District Court over allegations of allegedly leading a mob that attacked a woman on 21st June 2026 at the International Market, Abakaliki.
According to the charge, the defendants, alongside others said to be at large, allegedly conspired to commit the felony of attempted murder, an offence brought under Section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Ebonyi State.
The prosecution further alleged that the accused attempted to kill one Ebede Chisom by beating her with sticks and machetes, causing her injuries.
They were consequently charged with attempted murder under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Law of Ebonyi State.
In a third count, the defendants were accused of organizing themselves into a system of intimidation by allegedly stripping the complainant naked, an offence said to be contrary to Section 12(1)(d) of the Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Related Matters Law, 2010.
When the matter came up for arraignment, the defendants' pleas were not taken.
Three lawyers J.O. Alu, Charles Amamefor, and Elon David, who appeared for the first, second and third defendants respectively made applications for their bail.
But the Presiding Magistrate, Chief Magistrate Donatus Nkwegu declined to grant the accused persons bail.
He, however ordered that the three accused persons be remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
The matter was adjourned to 14 July 2026 for further proceedings.
The Court proceedings followed an incident of mob attack on Ms Chisom on June 21 at the poultry section of the International Market, Abakaliki.
The Police had earlier arrested the three suspects alongside 10 others following the brutal mob attack on the woman who was falsely accused of abducting three children in Abakaliki.
Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu was quoted at the time as narrating how the Police rescued the woman from the angry mob.
He said: "The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Central Police Station received a distress call from a concerned citizen who reported that an angry mob was about to lynch a woman over allegations that she had kidnapped three children found in her company"
"Acting swiftly, the DPO led a team of officers to the scene, where they found a crowd armed with dangerous weapons attacking the woman.
"The officers successfully rescued her and took her to the station for her safety and further questioning.
"During interrogation, the woman explained that the children were not kidnapped but belonged to her tenant, identified as Chinyere Okwuchukwu.
"She stated that Chinyere was assisting her at her piggery and had entrusted the children to her care while she worked. According to the woman, she had taken the children to the market to allow her tenant focus on her duties.
Mr Ukandu noted that the misunderstanding began when another woman questioned whether the children were hers, citing a lack of physical resemblance.
He said that before the accused woman could respond, the stranger allegedly raised an alarm, accusing her of child abduction.
The accusation quickly attracted a mob, which descended on her and subjected her to severe assault.
Mr Ukandu said police investigations later confirmed the woman's account.
"Officers visited her residence, where Chinyere Okwuchukwu identified the children as her own and confirmed that she had willingly allowed the woman to take them to the market.
Condemning the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Hope Urunwa Okafor, described the attack as barbaric and a dangerous example of the consequences of false accusations and jungle justice.
She warned residents against taking the law into their own hands and urged members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station rather than resorting to mob action.
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