Retired Brigadier General Sani Usman has recounted a disturbing incident in which a suspected bandit allegedly abducted and killed his own uncle for repeatedly speaking out against banditry.
Usman shared the account during an interview with Trust TV, using the incident to illustrate the level of brutality associated with criminal groups operating in parts of the country.
According to the retired military officer, the incident occurred just a few days before the interview in a community close to his hometown.
He said the victim, who was the uncle of the suspected bandit, had consistently advised his nephew against participating in banditry and other criminal activities.
Usman explained that the elderly man’s repeated condemnation of banditry allegedly angered the suspect, who later abducted and killed him.
Describing the incident, he alleged that the bandit murdered his uncle in an especially gruesome manner by dismembering his body.
According to Usman, after carrying out the killing, the suspect allegedly used the victim’s mobile phone to contact members of the family.
He said the caller identified himself as the victim’s nephew and reportedly admitted responsibility for the killing.
Usman stated that the suspect told the family he carried out the attack because his uncle had repeatedly advised him to abandon banditry.
“Just close to my hometown two days ago, an uncle to a bandit was taken. He was killed in the most brutal manner by the bandit. The bandit cut him into pieces and used his phone to call his family to tell them he was the one who killed him simply because he had been telling them involvement in banditry is not a good thing,” Usman said during the interview.
The retired general cited the incident as an example of the extreme violence associated with armed criminal groups and the risks faced by individuals who speak out against their activities.
According to him, the tragedy demonstrates that banditry has reached a point where even close family ties may not prevent perpetrators from targeting their own relatives.
Usman’s account also highlights the broader security challenges confronting many communities affected by banditry, where residents often live under the constant threat of attacks, kidnappings, and reprisals.
Although he did not disclose the exact location of the incident or the identity of the victim, he stressed that it occurred near his hometown only days before he spoke to Trust TV.
The retired military officer’s remarks have generated reactions online, with many expressing shock over the alleged killing and describing it as a stark illustration of the brutality attributed to bandit groups.
As of the time of his interview, no official statement had been referenced confirming the specific incident or announcing any arrests in connection with the alleged killing.
Usman’s account reflects his description of events during the Trust TV interview and underscores his concerns about the growing threat posed by banditry in affected parts of Nigeria.
