Ben Agir, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been allegedly beaten to death by a community vigilante group in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State over suspicion of motorcycle theft.
The incident reportedly occurred during a night patrol at Anibros settlement, where vigilante members intercepted him.
Confirming the development on Thursday, the chairman of Buruku LGA, Raymond Aondoakura, said the incident took place late Sunday night between 11 p.m and midnight.
He said “The report came to me on Monday around 4 a.m. The incident happened at Mbajor settlement near the Local Government Secretariat”.
“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, insisting that he was not telling the truth.
“They beat him into a coma. Seeing his condition, they took him to a hospital that night, but he died.”
Aondoakura added that those involved in the assault have been arrested and handed over to the police for investigation. He also said the local council had suspended vigilante operations in the area pending proper regulation.
“We confirmed that the deceased was a serving corps member,” the LG chairman stated.
However, the state Public Relations Officer of the NYSC, Veronica Ogwuche, said preliminary findings suggest the victim was not serving in Benue State, noting that he may have been deployed to Gombe State.