A member of a local vigilante team attached to the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Estate project site in the Karsana axis of Abuja sustained a severe leg injury after his rifle accidentally discharged while he attempted to reposition it, shortly after a robbery scare.
The estate, which is still under construction and known to store large quantities of building materials, has reportedly been a target for scrap and metal thieves in recent months, community sources say.
According to Daily Trust reporting, the incident happened at about 9pm on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The guard, identified as Rabiu Usman, said a group of suspected robbers stormed the site to steal iron rods. Together with colleagues, he managed to scare the suspects away.
However, after returning to his post, Usman attempted to sling his rifle over his shoulder — forgetting that he had already cocked the weapon during the confrontation and had not re-engaged the safety lock.
“The gun suddenly started releasing bullets into my leg,” Usman told reporters from his bed at Kubwa General Hospital on Sunday. He noted that the gunfire shattered his leg badly.
A teammate, Kabiru Sani, who accompanied Usman to the hospital, confirmed that doctors performed initial first-aid treatment but later referred him to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) in Gwagwalada for specialized examination, including X-rays to determine the extent of bone and tissue damage.
Both men were later seen leaving the hospital on a commercial tricycle to retrieve personal items from the project site before heading to UATH.
As of the time of filing this report, police authorities in the area said they had not yet received a formal incident report.
Security analysts say this case highlights two key issues: rising incidents of material theft at construction sites in Abuja’s fast-developing outskirts, and the need for proper safety training for non-formal armed security personnel operating in such zones.
Source:Africa Publicity
