Police operatives in Benue State have arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Benjamin Msughado Une, who was allegedly mistaken for a motorcycle thief in Buruku Local Government Area.
The tragic incident reportedly occurred after the corps member was attacked and beaten by members of a local vigilante group and other hoodlums who accused him of stealing a motorcycle.
Confirming the development in a telephone interview with journalists in Makurdi on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Edet Udeme, said the incident happened between 11pm and midnight on Sunday at Major Settlement, near the Buruku Local Government Secretariat.
According to her, preliminary findings have already begun to contradict the initial allegation made against the deceased.
She explained that investigations revealed the accusation of theft was false, adding that documents recovered showed the motorcycle in question actually belonged to the late corps member.
Udeme identified the two arrested suspects as Terkimbi Abumswende and Joshua Adagim, noting that another suspect linked to the incident is currently on the run.
She said efforts were ongoing to track down the fleeing suspect and assured that a full investigation would be carried out to ensure everyone involved is brought to justice.
The killing has sparked renewed concern over mob justice and rising cases of mistaken identity in parts of the country, where vigilante actions have increasingly led to fatal outcomes.
