The line between protector and predator has been crossed in Niger State. In a chilling revelation of "jungle justice" gone wrong, the Police Command has arrested four members of a local vigilante group in Kontagora for the alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and brutal murder of a 32-year-old cattle trader.

The victim, Umar Bingel, was not a criminal; he was a businessman returning from the market. On February 12, he was intercepted while riding his motorcycle, carrying N1.5 million in cash—proceeds from the sale of his cows. Instead of protecting him, the men sworn to guard the community allegedly abducted him, robbed him, and ended his life.

The Investigation Unfolds

Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun detailed the grim timeline. Following a report filed by the victim's family, operatives from the Kontagora Area Command launched a manhunt. This led to the arrest of three initial suspects: Suleiman Umar, Tanko Sale, and Rabiu Bako. Under interrogation, the facade of the "vigilante" crumbled.

"They stated that the victim was killed by a vigilante group led by one Danbaba and Smalli," Abiodun revealed. The principal suspect, Danbaba, was subsequently tracked down and arrested on February 15. In a final act of confession, he led detectives to a remote pit where the decomposed body of Bingel had been dumped, treating a human life as disposable waste.

A Systemic Problem?

This incident shines a harsh light on the unregulated nature of vigilante groups across Nigeria. Often formed to fill the security vacuum left by the state, some have mutated into criminal gangs using their uniforms as cover for extortion and murder.

• The Recovery: Police recovered the victim's Bajaj motorcycle, but the life of Umar Bingel—and the trust of the community—cannot be returned.
• The Consequence: The suspects are currently undergoing intense investigation and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for prosecution.

For the residents of Kontagora, the arrest is a double-edged sword: a victory for justice, but a terrifying realization that the danger may be coming from those claiming to keep them safe.