Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A 23‑year‑old corps member serving in Gombe State has been killed in Benue State after being mistaken for a motorcycle thief by members of a local vigilante group, in a brutal case of jungle justice that has left his family and community in shock and anger. Ben Agir, who had only a few weeks left before his final clearance to complete his national youth service, had returned home to the Buruku Local Government Area for a short holiday when he was apprehended late Sunday night. According to the Chairman of Buruku Local Government Council, Raymond Aondoakura, the incident occurred between 11:00 p.m. and midnight at the Mbajor settlement, near the Local Government Secretariat. Aondoakura confirmed that the young man was set upon by vigilantes who accused him of being a motorcycle thief, and before he could properly identify himself, he was severely beaten.
The council chairman described a scene of senseless violence. "Before he could properly identify himself and show his ID, one of the vigilante leaders started hitting him, claiming he was lying," Aondoakura said. "Others joined in, and he was beaten into a coma. When they realised how serious his condition was, they took him to a hospital, where he was later confirmed dead." A local source had earlier told reporters that the vigilantes had detained Agir late Sunday night, not allowing him a chance to defend himself. "They continued to beat him until he lost consciousness. It was only after that they took him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead," the source added. The deceased, who was reportedly the only son of his mother, had no prior criminal record.
After verifying that the deceased was indeed a serving corps member, Aondoakura moved swiftly to arrest all those involved and handed them over to the police for prosecution. He also announced the immediate suspension and disbandment of all vigilante groups operating in the Buruku area, declaring that appropriate measures would now be implemented to regulate their activities before any future operations could resume. "We have halted the activities of vigilante groups in Buruku and disbanded them," the chairman said. The prompt action by the local government was in stark contrast to many previous cases of jungle justice in Nigeria, where perpetrators often face little or no consequence.
The National Youth Service Corps has yet to issue an official statement on the tragic death of its member, who was serving his fatherland in Gombe State. Calls placed to the NYSC Public Relations Unit were not answered at the time of this report. However, corps members across the country have expressed outrage and grief on social media, with many calling on the Inspector‑General of Police to ensure that the killers are not shielded from prosecution.
The Benue State Police Command, which has taken over the investigation, has also not released an official comment. Attempts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful. The slain corps member’s body has been deposited in a morgue, and his family is still making arrangements for his burial. As the community mourns, the case stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of vigilante justice in a country where distrust of formal law enforcement often leads citizens to take the law into their own hands. Ben Agir did not steal a motorcycle. He was a young man with a future, who simply went home for a holiday and never returned.
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