Vigilante Injured in Accidental Discharge After Robbery Encounter
A member of a vigilante group operating at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Estate in Abuja accidentally shot himself while handling his rifle after successfully foiling a robbery attempt at the construction site.
The incident occurred on Saturday, November 8, 2025, around 9 pm at the housing facility located in the Karsana district of the Federal Capital Territory. According to reports, the confrontation began when suspected robbers attempted to steal iron rods from the construction site.
Chasing Away Robbers Leads to Accidental Shooting
The victim, identified as Rabiu Usman, was part of the vigilante team that responded to the robbery attempt. In an interview with Daily Trust from his hospital bed at Kubwa General Hospital, Usman recounted how the events unfolded.
"We were able to chase the robbers away from the site," Usman explained. "After the confrontation, I returned to my duty post but had forgotten to disengage the safety on my rifle, which I had earlier cocked during our encounter with the robbers."
The accidental discharge occurred when Usman lifted his weapon. "I lifted the gun and slung it over my shoulder, only for the rifle to start releasing its cartridges onto my leg, which was severely damaged from the shooting," he described.
Hospital Treatment and Referral for Specialized Care
Following the incident, Usman was immediately rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for initial medical attention. His colleague, Kabiru Sani, who was attending to him at the hospital, provided details about his medical condition and treatment plan.
"After primary treatment for the injuries, health officials at Kubwa General Hospital referred him to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada," Sani stated. He explained that a special X-ray would be performed at the teaching hospital to determine the exact condition of the injury and outline the required treatment approach.
Before transferring to the specialized facility, the vigilante and his colleagues were seen leaving Kubwa General Hospital on a chartered commercial tricycle to return briefly to the construction site where Usman had been staying.
Local police authorities confirmed that the incident had not been formally reported to them at the time of the initial reports, highlighting the informal nature of the security arrangement at the construction site.
