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Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has expressed sorrow over the death of a teacher identified as Ummulkhairi, who was reportedly killed by a mob in Jos after being accused of attempting to kidnap children.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page on June 22, 2026, Dalung recounted the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. According to him, Ummulkhairi had left her residence in New Maraban Jos to attend an Islamic lecture organized by scholars, including Malam Umar Waliy. The event was scheduled to take place at Madrasat Tashiyhul Iman, a school located in the old Maraba area.
Dalung explained that the teacher was unfamiliar with the venue and reportedly approached some children to ask for directions after those who were expected to accompany her had already moved ahead.
He wrote: “A few days ago, teacher Ummulkhairi left her home in New Maraban Jos with a simple purpose. She was going to attend a lecture organized by Malam Umar Waliy, my father, and other scholars at Madrasat Tashiyhul Iman, the school founded by Malama Mardiyya in the old Maraba area.”
According to Dalung, the situation escalated when some women allegedly accused her of attempting to abduct the children. He stated that the accusation quickly spread, attracting a crowd that later took her to a police station.
The former minister further alleged that family members, community leaders, and scholars later arrived and identified her as a respected teacher, insisting there was no evidence linking her to any criminal activity. However, he claimed that tensions continued to rise outside the station despite repeated appeals for calm.
Dalung alleged that the crowd eventually attacked the teacher, resulting in her death, and later set her body on fire. He also claimed that a motorcycle belonging to a scholar who tried to intervene was destroyed during the incident.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Dalung lamented that Ummulkhairi had set out in pursuit of knowledge but never returned home.
