Three die after vigilante operation triggers unrest in Minna
Three people have died after a vigilante operation in Minna, Niger State, triggered protests and clashes with youths, according to police and local sources. Police said a vigilante member allegedly shot one man during an attempted arrest, while two further deaths were reported during the ensuing violence.
At least three people were killed after a clash between local vigilantes and youths in Kpakungu and Gbeganu areas of Minna, Niger State, according to police and local sources. The incident began at about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, when vigilantes reportedly went to Kpakungu to arrest suspected miscreants.
The Niger State Police Command said a vigilante member allegedly shot and killed a man identified as Aliyu during the operation. The shooting prompted protests in the area. In the early hours of Sunday, youths reportedly blocked the Minna-Bida Road before moving towards Gbeganu, where they allegedly attacked residents.
Two additional deaths were reported during the violence, bringing the stated total to three. Local sources said the two victims were buried in line with local customs. The supplied material does not provide details about the identities of the two people or the circumstances of their deaths.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun said tactical teams had been deployed to disperse rioters and restore normalcy. He said the Minna-Bida Road was later cleared, allowing traffic to resume. Police said efforts were under way to arrest the vigilante member suspected of firing the fatal shot, as well as other people linked to the unrest.
The command urged residents to remain calm and obey the law. It also said security personnel had been deployed to prevent further violence and maintain peace in the affected communities. The material does not report any arrests or provide an account from the vigilante group or the families of those killed.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.