“I am the only son of my mother”

A young man identified simply as AbdulHahim lost his life following an altercation with local vigilantes over alleged cable theft in Ankpa, headquarters of Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Reports indicated that the incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026 when the deceased encountered the group in the suburb of the town. 

According to Daily Trust, the young man was heard screaming for help in a clip of the incident, pleading with his assailants to temper justice with mercy.

“Please do not k!ll me, Alhaji, I am the only son of my mother. Have mercy on me,” the deceased pleaded. 

According to reports, tension has gripped Ankpa residents, with opinion divided over the incident. While many condemned what they described as extra-judicial k!lling, others argued that the young man deserved his fate.

Yet, many residents said the incident deserves public attention, proper investigation and a response from relevant authorities.

A concerned resident of the town, Usman Adejoh from Agwa-Ankpa, the alleged abode of the deceased, said the incident was not properly handled, describing it as an act of jungle justice.

He called on relevant authorities to intervene and conduct a thorough investigation into the k!lling to douse growing tension and suspicion.

“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.

However, a popular vigilante group, “Atakpo,” known for its decisive action against criminals terrorising the town and its environs, reportedly denied involvement in the incident.

“We have no hand in that incident; it’s not from us,” a source from the Atakpo vigilante said.