Murder Of NYSC Member In Benue

Often, Nigeria’s efforts to solve one problem end up creating another. The brutal killing of Ben Agir, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, in the Mbajor community of Buruku local government area in Benue State, by the Vigilante Group, exemplifies this reality.

Communities in Benue have faced ongoing attacks by gunmen who raid villages to kill indiscriminately, as security forces appear to be overwhelmed.

In Benue, as in other states across the federation, personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) are present in every local government area. Their roles are both proactive and reactive. Yet attacks on communities persist, pointing to a clear intelligence gap if not failure.

To help address these recurring attacks amid what appears to be an overwhelmed security force, Vigilante Groups were formed and, in some cases, trained and supplied with basic weapons to combat the seemingly intractable security threats.

The idea is for the Vigilante groups to complement the obvious security gaps. But what does the nation gain in return? They are accused of various abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and extortion.

There are serious concerns about the quality of their training and supervision. They are inadequately trained, poorly equipped, and insufficiently supervised. Consequently, they often operate outside legal frameworks, leading to human rights violations, political intimidation, and increased ethnic tensions.

Many families, especially in rural areas, have become victims of the excesses of vigilante groups, who are ironically established to support the task of protecting lives and property.

The family of a corps member, Ben Agir, who answered the call for national service and is said to be serving in Gombe state, is now the latest victim of the Vigilante Group’s excesses. It was reported that the group apprehended the corps member on suspicion of being a motorcycle thief and beat him until he lost consciousness.

Assuming without conceding that the Corp Member was a motorcycle thief, what gave the Vigilante the right to beat him into a coma, which eventually led to his tragic death? What sort of training were members of the group exposed to?

In August 2025, members of the Vigilante in Anambra State stormed the corps members’ lodge at Oba, Idemili South LGA, and brutalised a female corps member, Jennifer Elohor. Fortunately, the Anambra state government dismissed the perpetrators and charged them to court, where they are currently undergoing prosecution.

It is sad that while Jennifer Elohor awaits the outcome of the ongoing prosecution, a new abuse of power by the Vigilante Group is being reported in Benue State.

The murder of Ben Agir by the Vigilante Group exposes the excessive zeal of security operatives in Nigeria. Whether it is the military, police, or Civil Defence, personnel of Nigerian security agencies, particularly those working in rural areas where literacy is low and poverty is high, often treat citizens unjustly. Human rights are openly violated.

We recall that this violation, particularly by the police, led to the infamous #ENDSARS protest when Nigerians, fed up with the excesses of the Police’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS)demanded their immediate disbandment. We hope there won’t be a time when citizens wake up to demand or even embark on an #ENDVIGILANTEGROUP protest.

Now, more than ever before, it is  time for government at both the national and state levels to address the excesses of not just the Vigilante Groups but all other security operatives who have earned notoriety for human rights violations.

Security operatives exist to enhance citizens’ lives. Anything that contradicts this goal undermines their purpose. The Vigilante in Benue and indeed, every other part of the country, must understand that their role is to foster peaceful coexistence by safeguarding lives and property.

Regarding the extra-judicial killing of Corp Member Ben Agir, we sympathise with the management of the National Youth Service Corps, and most importantly, the family of the deceased corps member, who has had to endure the pain of losing such a promising young man.

In our  opinion, the Benue State government needs to, without delay, initiate the prosecution of those responsible for Ben Agir’s gruesome murder. Justice should be served promptly, with the victim’s family duly compensated.

However, there is a pressing need to prioritise the training and supervision of the Vigilante Group. The time to act is now. The excesses of the vigilante groups often present arguments against state police. They should not be.