Men of a vigilante group have reportedly shot a 50-year-old man simply identified as Musbau in the early hours of Wednesday, July 3, in Arimoro, a neighborhood in Ilesa.

Musibau, according to sources, is a father of two with disabilities (destitute) who clears bushes and gathers snails, which he sells to make money for his family.

WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that Musibau was shot in the leg on Wednesday morning by the local vigilantes in Arimoro, where he was searching for snails.

Sources told WITHIN NIGERIA that local vigilantes apprehended Musibau when he was searching for snails, claiming that he was a thief and his colleagues had run away from the scene.

“He did not run away. He was asked to kneel down, and he obeyed them. I still do not know why they shot him in the leg despite obeying their directive”, a source disclosed.

According to the source, Musibau was taken to Ayeso Police Station after he was shot in the leg, but the police directed that he first be taken to the hospital for treatment.

“Musibau is currently at Oasis, a private hospital in Ilesa, receiving treatment for gunshot wounds”, the source revealed.

Adedayo Isaac, a legal practitioner, while reacting to the development, stated that it is criminal and totally wrong for vigilantes to shoot suspects, particularly those who are not running away from apprehension after committing a crime.

According to Isaac, local vigilantes are only empowered to effect the arrest of suspects or offenders and take them to the nearest police station for investigation and prosecution.

“Shooting an offender or suspect is an abuse of his or her rights to a fair hearing. Every case or situation, no matter how terrible it might be, deserves to be interrogated or investigated.”

“It is sad that the said victim, who was shot in the leg, has been portrayed by residents of the community as someone who’s always searching for snails to be sold for survival. If he had not been shot and the local vigilantes had taken him to the police station, an investigation would have revealed  that,” Isaac added.

The legal practitioner urged the police to invite all parties, including the local vigilantes, investigate the matter, and prosecute offenders to serve as deterrents to others.

SP Titilope, the Divisional Police Officer of Division ‘A’ Ayeso Police Command, while conversing via telephone with WITHIN NIGERIA, confirmed the incident. “We are aware of the situation, and the investigation has been commendable,”  he assured.