Happening Now : 20-Year-Old Boy Bü--řnt to D€-@Ťh This morning in Terminus Market, Jos for Allegedly Stealing Garri and a bottle of groundnut (Photos)

   A deeply tragic and disturbing event unfolded this morning at the bustling Terminus Market in Jos, Plateau State, where a 17-year-old boy was reportedly lynched and burned to death by a mob after he was accused of stealing a small quantity of garri.

Eyewitnesses recount a harrowing scene in which the teenager, whose identity remains unknown at the time of this report, was caught by traders and some market boys after allegedly attempting to flee with a plastic bag of garri — a staple food in many Nigerian homes. What began as a minor accusation of theft escalated quickly into mob violence.

Despite the boy’s cries for mercy, and some passersby reportedly pleading for restraint, the angry crowd descended on him. He was beaten severely and ultimately set ablaze in broad daylight. By the time security personnel arrived at the scene, it was too late — the young boy had died from the injuries sustained during the gruesome act.

Photos and videos from the scene, which have since surfaced on social media, show a crowd gathered around the charred remains, some with expressions of shock, others recording the aftermath. The graphic nature of the images has sparked nationwide outrage, with many calling for justice and the immediate arrest of those involved.

Human rights organizations and activists have condemned the act in the strongest terms, describing it as a “sickening display of jungle justice” and a “national disgrace.” They are demanding that those responsible be identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

"This is not just a crime — it is a reflection of a broken system where poverty, lawlessness, and dehumanization of the poor have taken center stage," one activist wrote online.

Authorities from the Plateau State Police Command have confirmed that an investigation is underway. “We strongly condemn this barbaric act and will ensure that all those involved are brought to justice,” a spokesperson said during a press briefing.

The heartbreaking story has reignited urgent conversations around poverty, mob justice, and the value of human life in Nigeria. Many have pointed out the cruel irony — that a boy allegedly stole food to survive, only to be killed for it.