A serving National Youth Service Corps member, identified as Ben Agir, has been allegedly beaten to death by members of a community vigilante group in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident occurred in Anibros settlement during a night patrol operation by the vigilantes, according to a local source who said the deceased was accosted on suspicion of being involved in the theft of a motorcycle.
Confirming the incident to newsmen on Thursday, the Chairman of Buruku LGA, Raymond Aondoakura, said it happened on Sunday night between 11 p.m. and midnight.
“The report came to me on Monday around 4 a.m. The incident happened at Mbajor settlement near the Local Government Secretariat,” the chairman said.
“From what I gathered, they said they caught him and suspected that he was a bike snatcher. Before he could explain himself and present his identification card, one of the leaders started beating him, claiming that he was not telling them the truth.”
“They beat him to a coma, and seeing his condition, they took him to a hospital that night, and he died.”
According to him, the suspects have been arrested and handed over to the police for further action. He also disclosed that the council had suspended the activities of vigilante groups in the area pending proper regulation.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the NYSC in the state, Mrs Veronica Ogwuche, told newsmen that preliminary information indicated that the deceased was not a corps member serving in Benue, adding that he may have been serving in Gombe State.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful as calls and messages were not returned as of the time of filing this report.
