An iron scavenger has been arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of a pump-action rifle in Auchi, Edo State.
The discovery has raised fresh concerns about insecurity and illegal arms circulation in the area and thrown residents into shock.
The incident came to light after a video posted on TikTok by user @leftistscorner captured the moment the suspect was confronted and interrogated by residents.
The footage, which has since gone viral, showed a young man surrounded by a crowd as he was questioned over the origin of the firearm.
In the video, the suspect claimed he obtained the weapon from an individual simply identified as “Emma”, a response that appeared to further enraged the onlookers.
The situation escalated, with scenes of physical torture reportedly meted out to the suspect before the arrival of security personnel.
Eyewitnesses expressed alarm at the growing trend of firearms being found in the hands of civilians, especially among those seemed harmless such as scavengers.
“This is the kind of thing we fear most,” one resident commented. “If a scavenger can carry a pump-action, who knows how many others are out there with weapons?”
The incident has since triggered a wave of reactions on social media, with many commenters linking the discovery to the wider problem of youth unemployment, rising criminality, and poor regulation of scrap metal collection in many parts of Nigeria.
Authorities in Edo State were yet to release an official statement on the matter but residents are calling on the police to carry out thorough investigation and address the wider implications of the incident.
