Two people have been hospitalised after the residents of the Soje area in Minna, Niger State clashed with some members of the vigilante corps.

It was learned that the clash was ignited by a raid carried out by the members of the vigilante corps as they went after people in the black spots in the Soje area of Minna, which is known as a zone for hoodlums and drug peddlers, among other vices.

Some of the residents, who pleaded anonymity, said that the part of Soje that was raided by the vigilantes was not really part of the ‘trouble zone’; yet the corps came and started to raid in the zone. This, according to the residents, led to the clash between the residents and the men of the vigilante corps.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Niger State, confirmed the incident and said that the police have always advised the vigilantes to work in synergy with the police so that incidents such as this one would be professionally handled.

“The injured victims were taken to the hospital for treatment, while the community promised to maintain peace and normalcy was restored.

“However, efforts to arrest the escaped suspects are ongoing as their alleged crime is under investigation.

“They (vigilantes) should have informed the police before carrying out such an operation in the future because the police are professionally trained to handle situations of this nature.”