Bandits Kill Vigilante Member During Rescue Operation in Kogi
By Andrew Haruna
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed a member of a local vigilante group, identified as Opeyemi Aina, in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident, which has heightened tension in the area, reportedly occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when vigilante members engaged the armed attackers while attempting to rescue kidnapped victims.
Aina, a native of the Ijalu compound in Egbe and a member of the Amekunlaye Vigilante Group, was said to have been shot dead during an ambush by the assailants.
Sources within the community disclosed that other members of the vigilante group sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries but managed to escape from the scene.
“Opeyemi Aina, alongside other vigilante members, went out to rescue kidnap victims. Unfortunately, during the encounter, he was shot and died instantly,” a resident, Mathew Babagbmi, said.
The attack has further raised concerns over the growing insecurity in parts of Kogi State, particularly in rural communities where vigilante groups often serve as first responders to criminal activities.
Efforts to reach the Kogi State Police Command for official reaction proved unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to calls and messages as of the time of filing this report.
The Bureau News reports that residents are calling for increased security presence and improved coordination between formal security agencies and local vigilante groups to curb the rising wave of banditry in the area.
