The incident occurred at Anibros Settlement in the area, according to local sources who said the vigilantes arrested the victim during a night patrol over suspicion that he was involved in stealing a motorcycle
A serving corps member identified as Ben Agir has been reportedly killed by community vigilantes in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State after being accused of motorcycle theft.
The incident occurred at Anibros Settlement in the area, according to local sources who said the vigilantes arrested the victim during a night patrol over suspicion that he was involved in stealing a motorcycle.
Confirming the development in a telephone interview on Thursday, the Chairman of Buruku LGA, Raymond Aondoakura, said the incident happened between 11 p.m. and 12 midnight on Sunday at Mbajor Settlement, near the council secretariat.
According to him, “The report reached me on Monday around 4 a.m. The incident happened late on Sunday between 11 p.m. and 12 midnight at Mbajor Settlement near the Local Government Secretariat.
“From what I gathered, they said they caught him and suspected he was a bike snatcher. Before he could explain himself and present his identity card, one of the vigilante leaders started beating him, insisting he was lying.
“They beat him into a coma, and when they saw his condition, they rushed him to a hospital that night, where he later died.”
He added that the suspects involved had been arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution, noting that the council had also suspended and disbanded local vigilante operations pending further regulation.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach the police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as calls were not answered at the time of filing this report.
However, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the state, through its spokesperson, Mrs Veronica Ogwuche, said preliminary information indicated that the deceased may not have been serving in Benue State, but possibly in Gombe State.
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