Vigilante

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Residents of Tudun Tagarji in Kano State were left in shock on Saturday after a newborn baby was discovered abandoned inside a carton near a drainage in the Kaura area.

The discovery was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday by the Commander of the Operation Zaman Lafiya vigilante group, Rabiu Sulaiman.

Sulaiman explained that his team encountered the tragic scene while on routine patrol in the early hours of the morning.

“Yesterday, around 2 a.m., while we were on patrol, we came across a shocking incident inside a pit very close to us. Upon close observation, we noticed a disposed carton, but we had no idea what was inside it.

“To clear our doubt and be sure nothing harmful was kept there, I instructed my boys to open the carton, and behold, upon opening it, we saw a baby already dead,” he recounted.

Following the discovery, the vigilante team immediately informed local community leaders before reporting the matter to the police.

“By morning, we invited the ward head to come and see for himself, along with other members of the community, before conveying the baby to the police station and informing them,” Sulaiman added.

The authorities directed them to a hospital, where doctors confirmed the baby was already deceased.

“We came back home and organised burial rites for the baby in accordance with Islamic teachings,” he stated.

Sulaiman urged community vigilante groups to remain vigilant and stated the importance of parental guidance, particularly in preventing situations that could lead to unwanted pregnancies.

“Unwanted pregnancy contradicts Islamic teachings. Parents must monitor their children’s movements and guide them properly,” he advised.

The incident has sparked deep sorrow within the community, with calls for increased awareness and preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

In a troubling incident in Idu community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, two siblings, Collins Ugorji and Newman Ugorji, met a tragic end allegedly at the hands of the OSPAC vigilante group.  

Wade Ugorji, cousin of the deceased, recounted the events, stating that the brothers were visiting a relative when OSPAC members detained them, erroneously labeling them as kidnappers.

Despite their innocence, the siblings were fatally shot while in custody. “On the 1st of May 2024, my cousin, Mr Collins Ugorji… and his younger brother Mr Newman Ugorji… went to Idu community… They were arrested by the OSPAC officials, who killed both of them claiming that they were kidnappers,” Wade lamented. 

The news of the siblings’ deaths spread rapidly, with images circulating on social media purporting to show slain kidnappers.  

Recognizing his cousins, Wade swiftly reported the matter to the Omoku Police Division, prompting an investigation. Amid escalating tensions, the police, led by the Divisional Police Officer, ventured to Idu community.

However, they faced resistance from OSPAC members, who brazenly challenged the authority of the police. 

“The vigilante member threatened and warned the DPO not to come back to the area again,” Wade recounted. 

Despite attempts to conceal the crime, evidence emerged, including Newman Ugorji’s bloodstained slippers found in the OSPAC office. 

Wade appealed to state authorities and concerned citizens for justice, urging the governor, the Inspector General of Police, and the state Commissioner of Police to intervene. 

Confirming the incident, Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe Koko, stated that one OSPAC member and four other suspects had been apprehended in connection with the murders.  

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal and Investigation Department for further inquiry.