Islamic fanatics in Abuja have killed a security operative after he reportedly vowed not to release a suspect even if God asked him to do so. A video of the mob action has been shared on social media.

The incident on Saturday afternoon in Timber Shed neighbourhood, Lugbe Federal Housing, came barely three weeks after a mob in Sokoto lynched a Christian student. Deborah Samuel had opposed posting Islamic messages on the school WhatsApp group before her coursemates set her up for lynching on April 12.

Today’s incident, according to witnesses, came when a suspect riding on a bike was arrested by the local vigilante operatives. Friends of the suspect then came to demand his release, during which one of the operatives said he won’t listen even if God asked him to. The statement was considered blasphemous by the mob said to be of people of Islamic faith only.

Another witness told Peoples Gazette the deceased’s colleagues were amongst those who lynched him.

The police have moved in to clear the area and restore normalcy, and a spokesman said additional information about what transpired will be disclosed later.

Suspects arrested in Ms Samuel’s murder were charged under an unclear legal framework. The prime suspect has yet to be arrested, and police sources said he might have fled across the border to Niger Republic, where he reportedly came from.

Abuja chief imam Ibrahim Maqari was amongst fringe religious leaders who endorsed Ms Samuel’s murder and demanded protection of the suspects.