January 6, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
ABUJA — Amnesty International, the global human rights watchdog, has strongly condemned the brutal mob killing of Pastor Dio Idon in Southern Kaduna, Nigeria, and has called on Nigerian authorities to launch an urgent and transparent investigation into the incident. The organisation described the violent death as a stark indication of the escalating trend of mob violence and extrajudicial killings across the country.
The horrifying incident occurred on Sunday, January 4, 2026, when Pastor Idon who served as a cleric at ECWA Ungwan Shaawa LC, Kasuwan Magani DCC in Kaduna State — was attacked by a local mob. Residents accused him of causing his brother’s death through alleged witchcraft, a claim Amnesty International says has no basis in law and reflects dangerous superstition and breakdowns in community justice. The pastor was reportedly lynched and his remains burned to ashes by the mob, a detail Amnesty highlighted in its statement.
In its formal condemnation, Amnesty International decried the growing prevalence of so-called “jungle justice” in Nigeria, where dispute resolution increasingly descends into violence without recourse to lawful processes. The organisation characterised the killing as a glaring example of how ordinary citizens are taking the law into their own hands, with catastrophic consequences. “The horrifying incident is an example of how people increasingly take law into their hands and carry out so-called jungle justice,” the statement said.
Human rights groups have long warned that such acts violate the fundamental right to life and undermine the rule of law, with perpetrators frequently escaping accountability. Amnesty International stressed that mob killings remain one of the gravest threats to human rights in Nigeria, noting that few cases are properly investigated or prosecuted, which in turn fosters impunity and repeat offenses.
The organisation urged Nigerian authorities to take decisive action in the case by thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding Pastor Idon’s death and ensuring that all individuals involved — directly and indirectly — are brought to justice. It called for concrete steps to curb mob violence and to guarantee that allegations of criminal conduct are addressed strictly within the framework of domestic law and international human rights obligations.
This high-profile condemnation follows broader concerns over similar incidents in parts of Nigeria, where communal tensions, allegations of witchcraft, and weak law enforcement have periodically fueled outbreaks of vigilante justice. Analysts say the Southern Kaduna killing once again spotlights the critical need for effective community policing, legal education, and responsive justice systems to prevent such tragedies.
Amnesty’s demand for accountability echoes calls from civil society organisations and human rights advocates nationwide, who argue that arrests and prosecutions in past mob-related killings have been few and far between. They insist that addressing the root causes of such violence including misinformation, socio-economic grievances, and gaps in formal justice mechanisms is essential to protecting vulnerable citizens and upholding human rights in Nigeria.
As the nation grapples with recurring episodes of communal violence, the outcome of this probe and the government’s response will be closely watched by human rights defenders and local communities alike.