By Ishola Balogun

The Nigeria Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS) has demanded the immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Maraban Jos Police Station in Kaduna State, accusing him of complicity in the gruesome lynching of a female Islamiyya school teacher, Malama Ummulkhairi Usman Ali.
The association also called for the comprehensive prosecution of every individual involved in the mob attack, including those who allegedly raised the false alarm that led to the incident, those who assaulted the deceased and those who set her ablaze. It further urged the Federal Government to provide adequate protection for Arabic and Islamic educators across the country against harassment and mob violence.
The demands were contained in a press statement issued on June 27 by the National Executive Committee of NATAIS and signed by its President, Prof. Mahir Harun Mahir, following the killing of Ummulkhairi in Maraban Jos community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to the association, the deceased, described as a dedicated Islamiyya school teacher and mother, was on her way to attend a religious lecture when she was falsely accused of child theft.
NATAIS stated that despite interventions by her relatives, respected Islamic scholars and community elders who reportedly confirmed her innocence, an enraged mob ignored the appeals and descended on her.
The association alleged that after the victim was initially taken into protective custody at the police station, the Divisional Police Officer succumbed to pressure from the mob and handed her over to the attackers.
It described the alleged action as a grave violation of professional ethics and a betrayal of public trust.
“In a constitutional democratic country like Nigeria, where law, order and due process must reign supreme, it is a dangerous anomaly for a law enforcement commander to surrender an innocent citizen to jungle justice,” the statement said.
It added that the conduct of the DPO made the leadership of the division “complicit in her murder.”
While condemning what it described as the horrific, barbaric and extrajudicial killing of the teacher, NATAIS maintained that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
The association insisted that the officers allegedly involved should face criminal prosecution as accomplices to culpable homicide.
It also called on security agencies to ensure that every person connected with the lynching is identified, arrested and successfully
prosecuted.
According to the association, justice should be delivered not only to the deceased and her family but also to the entire community of Arabic and Islamic educators across Nigeria who now feel vulnerable.
NATAIS further urged the Federal Government to strengthen security around educational and religious institutions, particularly for women engaged in teaching and learning, saying such measures would help prevent similar attacks.
Despite its condemnation, the association commended the Kaduna State Government for its swift denunciation of the incident and its commitment to ensuring that the state does not become a haven for lawlessness.
It also praised the Inspector-General of Police for taking immediate administrative and disciplinary interest in the conduct of the officers involved.
The Department of State Services (DSS) was equally commended for its intelligence gathering and operational support in tracking suspects linked to the incident.
NATAIS further acknowledged the role of civil society organisations for sustaining public advocacy for justice and lauded Nigerians who rejected mob rule and demanded adherence to the rule of law.
The association, however, stressed that arrests alone would not satisfy the demands of justice.
“Justice must be swift, visible and uncompromised. It must be delivered completely to the deceased, to her family and to the entire community of Arabic and Islamic educators across Nigeria who currently feel deeply vulnerable and targeted. Law enforcement must use this case as a historic turning point to permanently dismantle the culture of impunity and jungle justice in Nigeria,” the statement said.
NATAIS extended its condolences to the husband, children, relatives, colleagues and students of the late Ummulkhairi, describing her death as an irreplaceable loss to the Arabic and Islamic studies teaching community.
The association prayed for Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and vowed to continue demanding justice until all those responsible are held accountable.