Gunmen kill 18-year-old vigilante in Plateau midnight attack

Gunmen kill 18-year-old vigilante in Plateau attack

Tension has gripped Rachas Village in Heipang District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, following the killing of an 18-year-old vigilante member, Divine Dung Davou, by gunmen during a midnight attack.

The incident, which occurred at about 12:30am on Tuesday, has thrown the community into mourning and renewed fears over insecurity in rural communities.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the killing in a statement on Tuesday.

He said, “According to information available to the Association, Divine, who was a vigilante member of the community, was killed at about 12:30 am during a midnight attack by armed men.”

Tengwong said the killing had devastated the victim’s family and the entire Rachas community.

Residents who spoke on the incident described the late Divine as a committed youth who volunteered to protect his community.

A community leader in Rachas, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We are heartbroken. Divine was just 18 years old. He joined the vigilante to protect our village because we have no security presence here at night.

“Now he has been killed while trying to protect us. The government should not abandon us.”

Another resident, Mrs Mary Chollom, said fear had returned to the village.

“We could not sleep last night. The gunshots were too much. We are mostly farmers, and we live in fear.

“ If our vigilante who protects us is killed like this, who will protect us? We are calling on the government to deploy security personnel to this area,” she said.

A youth in the community, Mr Dalyop Gyang, also called for justice.

“Divine was our brother and a brave young man. He did not deserve to die this way. We want the killers to be arrested, and we want stronger security patrols. We cannot continue to lose our youths to gunmen,” he said.

In its reaction, the BYM called for urgent security intervention.

Tengwong said, “BYM calls on the Plateau State Police Command and other security agencies to urgently investigate the killing, apprehend the perpetrators and strengthen security patrols, intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms in vulnerable communities.”

He added, “We urge the Plateau State and Federal Governments to move beyond routine assurances and implement concrete, sustained measures to protect lives and property, particularly in communities repeatedly exposed to attacks.”

He further said, “BYM extends its condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Rachas, while appealing for urgent action to prevent further loss of lives.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The National Assembly is set to transmit the proposed State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent after completing the authentication of approvals secured from 28 state Houses of Assembly.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, confirming that the number of state legislatures that had approved the proposed constitutional amendment exceeded the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states.

He said, “The office has also undertaken the necessary administrative verification of the reports and accompanying votes and proceedings to establish their authenticity and ensure that the records accurately reflect the decisions taken by the respective state Houses of Assembly.

“In view of the approvals secured from the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the Bill to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for assent, in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, CAP A2, (LEN) 2004.”

The authentication process is a key step towards transmitting the bill to the President for assent.

The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and related matters, amid renewed calls for a decentralised policing system to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

According to Ogunlana, the bill was transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval, with a request that their decisions be communicated to the National Assembly within 30 days.

Although the deadline expired on October 15, the clerk said his office would continue to receive reports from state legislatures until the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.

“Following the receipt and verification of the reports, the office confirms that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the Bill,” the statement read.

He explained that the approvals exceeded the constitutionally prescribed threshold of not less than two-thirds of the 36 state legislatures, equivalent to 24 states, as stipulated in Section 9 of the Constitution.

The clerk also clarified that Section 9 of the Constitution did not expressly prescribe a third reading for a constitutional alteration bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary bills.

“It is pertinent to clarify that Section 9 of the Constitution does not expressly prescribe a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary Bills,” he stated.

He said the necessary administrative processes were being undertaken to facilitate the transmission of the bill to Tinubu in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act, Cap A2 (LFN) 2004.

The development marks a significant step in the long-running debate over the establishment of state police, which proponents argue would enable states to respond more effectively to local security threats, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence.

Nigeria currently operates a centrally controlled police system under the Nigeria Police Force, with state governments lacking independent police commands.

Supporters of decentralised policing have argued that state police would improve intelligence gathering and allow security operations to be tailored to local circumstances. However, concerns have also been raised about possible political abuse, inadequate funding and the protection of human rights under state-controlled police structures.

Ogunlana commended the state legislatures for their cooperation in considering the proposed amendment, describing it as an important step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture and deepening its federal system.

The bill’s transmission to the President would pave the way for the next stage of the constitutional amendment process.

The clerk said his office would continue to provide timely information on developments relating to the amendment.