Tragedy In Benue As Vigilante Group Allegedly Beats National Youth Corps Member To Death In Case Of Mistaken Identity

A corps member serving in Gombe was killed in Benue after vigilantes mistook him for a thief. The local council has disbanded the security group.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 4:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

A Fatal Misunderstanding In Mbajor Settlement

The community of Buruku is mourning the death of Ben Agir Une, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, following a violent encounter with local security volunteers. According to Raymond Aondoakura, the Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, the incident occurred late Sunday night near the local secretariat. Une was intercepted by a vigilante patrol under the suspicion that he was involved in the theft of a motorcycle, a situation that rapidly deteriorated into a lethal physical assault.

Escalation Beyond Identification

Reports indicate that the confrontation reached a point of no return before the deceased could establish his identity as a corps member. The council chairman revealed that a leader of the vigilante group allegedly spearheaded the attack, accusing the victim of being deceptive during questioning. Despite any attempts at clarification, Une was subjected to a severe beating that left him unconscious. He was subsequently transported to a medical facility where he was pronounced dead, just weeks before he was scheduled to complete his mandatory national service.

Immediate Disbanding Of Local Security Groups

In response to the killing, the local government administration has taken swift disciplinary action against the perpetrators and the organization at large. Aondoakura confirmed that all individuals involved in the assault have been apprehended and transferred to police custody for formal prosecution. Furthermore, the chairman has announced the immediate suspension of all vigilante operations within the local government area, effectively disbanding the groups until a more structured regulatory framework can be established to prevent future extrajudicial violence.