Teenage Woman Beaten, Burned to Death After Being Accused of Being Islamist Suicide Bomber

A young woman was beaten and burned alive by an irate crowd at a market in Bauchi, Nigeria, on Sunday after she refused to be bodily searched, prompting people to suspect that she was a suicide bomber.

After hitting her on the head with a club, the mob put a tire soaked with fuel over her body and set her ablaze, witnesses said.

Haruna Mohammed, Bauchi State police command spokesman, said the teenager was attacked by a mob at the entrance of Muda Lawal Market in Bauchi. "Information at our disposal revealed that a yet-to-be identified lady who allegedly refused to allow herself to be screened at the entrance of Muda Lawal Market, Bauchi, was attacked by irate mob who took law into their hands and set her ablaze," said Mohammed, according to the Nigerian Tribune.

He said the woman died on the spot before authorities arrived. "Police patrol teams including explosive ordinance disposal unit rushed to the scene, dispersed the rampaging crowd and restored normalcy in the area," Mohammed said.

An eyewitness told the newspaper that she saw the woman, who was wearing a hijab, at the vegetable section and was asked to be searched but refused.

When her hijab was unveiled, two bottles of suspected explosives were allegedly found in her possession. People at the market became angry and immediately set her on fire.

A news source said the woman was with a man at the market. When the crowd approached, the man immediately ran away and left her to the mercy of the mob.

"When people removed the lady's hijab, they saw two bottles which contained some substances suspected to be explosives, so they immediately set her ablaze to avert bomb blast in the market," according to the source.

The police warned the public from taking the law into their hands and said those who set the woman on fire would be arrested.

The "case is under investigation and intensive patrol is ongoing in the area in order to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further breakdown of law and order," the police public relations officer said. "The command warned members of the public against taking laws into their hands as anyone arrested will face the full wrath of the law."