Vigilantes shoot man to death while enforcing compulsory haircut in Bauchi community

Men of the Bauchi State Police Command have arrested a man who belongs to a local vigilante group and one other suspect over the shooting to death of a young man over a haircut.

Reports say the incident involving the victim identified as Abbati Mahmud happened when the group was enforcing compulsory shaving of heads at the Rariya Quarters in Bauchi metropolis, Bauchi State.

Recounting the unfortunate incident, an eyewitness, Yahuza Shehu, said some members of the Vigilante Group came to the victim’s shop located at Rariya Quarters to shave his hair.

He said, “When they removed Mubarak’s cap, they discovered that he had already shaved his head, so they left and later came back in large numbers, claiming that they heard that some people were making uncomplimentary statements about them.

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“This led to an argument and the deceased took his younger siblings and kept them in one room; they were eight in the room.

“But one of the vigilantes forced the window open, pointed his gun inside the room and shot Mahmud to death. We discovered over 58 gun pellets in his body; one of the pellets hit someone called Aliyu on his leg and injured him.”

The incident was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Kamal Abubakar, who confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting.

“We received a report on the death of a young man, who was allegedly shot dead by a member of the vigilante group at the Rariya Quarters.

“We have commenced investigation into the incident and whoever is found guilty will be prosecuted. So far, we have arrested two people in connection with the incident.”

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