Outrage has erupted in Ankpa, Kogi State, following the reported killing of a young man identified as AbdulHahim over alleged electric cable theft.

A video circulating online shows the victim pleading for his life, telling his alleged assailants that he was his mother’s only son.

The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, October 15, in a suburb of Ankpa, headquarters of Ankpa Local Government Area.

In the video, the young man appealed to his alleged attackers to spare him.

“Please do not kill me, Alhaji. I am the only son of my mother. Have mercy on me,” he pleaded.

Reports linked the confrontation to allegations of electric cable theft. However, details of the incident and the identities of those directly involved remain unclear.

The reported killing has divided opinion among residents. While some condemned the incident as jungle justice, others argued that people caught stealing should face the consequences of their actions.

Concerned residents, however, insisted that suspected theft does not justify killing anyone. They called on security agencies to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death.

A resident, Usman Adejoh, from Agwa-Ankpa, condemned the reported killing and urged the authorities to intervene.

He called for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of anyone found responsible, warning that failure to address the incident transparently could heighten tensions and deepen public distrust.

Adejoh maintained that security personnel should arrest suspected offenders and hand them over to the police for investigation and prosecution.

“If someone is suspected of stealing a cable or committing any other offence, the proper response is to apprehend the suspect, hand him over to the police, conduct an investigation and allow the courts to determine the case according to the law,” a resident said.

Meanwhile, the Atakpo vigilante group, which operates in Ankpa and surrounding communities, has reportedly denied involvement in the incident.

“We have no hand in that incident; it’s not from us,” a source from the group was quoted as saying.

The denial comes amid calls for the authorities to identify those involved and determine whether members of any vigilante group participated in the alleged killing.

The incident has renewed concerns about jungle justice and the risks of allowing suspects to face punishment outside the formal justice system.

Although some communities rely on local vigilante groups to support security efforts, residents have stressed that their operations must comply with the law and respect the rights of suspects.

Under Nigeria’s legal system, an allegation of theft does not establish guilt. Suspects are entitled to due process, and the courts determine criminal responsibility after considering the evidence.

Residents have therefore urged the police to conduct a transparent investigation into AbdulHahim’s death, identify those responsible and ensure that justice takes its course.

As of the time of filing this report, the police had not issued an official statement on the incident.