Vigilante members of the unregulated No Beli Hunters shot and killed two minors aged 14 and 15 in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, nearly a year after the February 2025 incident.
The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement accused the police of direct complicity.
Officers arrested the boys for suspected livestock theft, detained them briefly, then unlawfully transferred them to the vigilante group instead of processing them through the formal justice system.
The No Beli Hunters lack any legal authority to detain, interrogate, or punish suspects.
Despite this, they took custody of the teenagers and executed them extrajudicially.
TIB activists condemned the killings as a grave violation of children’s rights and basic due process.
They demanded immediate arrests of the perpetrators, a full independent investigation, and the complete disarmament of the vigilante outfit.
Furthermore, the group reported the case to the National Human Rights Commission and relevant Bauchi State authorities shortly after the incident.
However, no meaningful action followed.
No suspects faced charges, no official probe materialized, and the No Beli Hunters continued operating without restraint.
This case exposes deep flaws in local security arrangements.
Unregulated vigilante groups frequently overstep boundaries in Nigeria’s rural areas, where communities face livestock theft and banditry.
Police often collaborate with these groups informally, yet fail to supervise them or enforce accountability when abuses occur.
Human rights advocates argue that such impunity erodes public trust and endangers vulnerable populations, especially children.
The TIB Movement vows to sustain pressure until justice prevails for the slain minors and systemic reforms prevent future tragedies.
