A passenger identified as Jidda Muhammad has been shot dead by a hunter, simply known as Jibril, during a stop-and-search operation near Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1 p.m. on Saturday, leaving residents in shock over what many described as an avoidable tragedy.
According to a Facebook post shared on Sunday by Abubakar Kingimi Ali, a relative of the deceased, the hunter allegedly shot Muhammad following his refusal to pay ₦1,000 at a checkpoint.
Ali’s post read: “Today, I share devastating news with a heavy heart. My dear friend, Alhaji Jidda Muhammad, was brutally murdered by a retired Boko Haram member near Mafa, LGA of Borno State. He was returning from Gomboru Ngala to Maiduguri when they stopped him, demanded N1,000, and—upon his refusal—shot him with AK-47 rifles.”
He added, “This wasn’t just a robbery. It was a cold-blooded execution. And it reflects the terrifying reality that many in Borno face daily: where former insurgents roam freely, extorting and killing innocent civilians with impunity.”
However, security sources who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity confirmed that the shooting indeed took place, but described it as a result of a disagreement between the hunter and the victim.
“The incident occurred on October 4, around 1 p.m. Jibril is a member of the hunters’ union who was at a checkpoint for a stop-and-search operation. He had a confrontation with Jidda Muhammad, a passenger. That is what led to the firing. He killed him with a pump-action,” one source said.
When asked if the issue was money-related, the source responded, “As much as I know, it is not money-related. It was just a misunderstanding.”
Efforts to reach the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered as of press time.
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