JUST-IN: 3 Die As Vigilantes Allegedly Kill Suspect In Niger

Three people have died in Minna, the Niger State capital, following the alleged killing of a suspect by a vigilante member in the Kpakungu area of the city.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday night when vigilantes reportedly mobilised to arrest suspected hoodlums in the area.

In the process, one of the vigilante members allegedly shot a suspect identified as Aliyu, killing him at the scene.

The incident reportedly triggered a protest during which two other residents were killed, according to the police.

The development came barely three weeks after 37 suspected illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, while three people also died last week in a stampede at the Government House in the state capital.

The incidents have heightened concerns among residents over the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Confirming the latest incident to LEADERSHIP, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the incident occurred at about 10:30pm on October 3, 2026.

He said, “A report received indicated that a group of vigilante men mobilised to Kpakungu area to arrest some miscreants and in the process, one of the vigilante members shot one Aliyu dead.”

Abiodun said the incident led to protests in the area, prompting police patrol teams to mobilise to the location and restore normalcy.

He added that efforts were ongoing to arrest the vigilante member allegedly responsible for the shooting.

However, the police spokesman said some of the suspected miscreants later mobilised in the early hours of October 4 and blocked the Bida-Minna Road in the name of protest.

According to him, the group subsequently moved to the Gbeganu area, where they allegedly attacked residents.

“In the course of the attack, it was reported that two persons lost their lives,” he said.

Abiodun said police tactical teams were deployed to the area, adding that the rioters were dispersed and the road cleared for the free flow of traffic.

Further details were still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.