Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, was thrown into mourning on Sunday night after suspected bandits gunned down a respected businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Sani Sabo.
The attack, which occurred at about 9:20 p.m., sent chillwaves across the community.
Witnesses said the armed men stormed the area, opened fire on Alhaji Sani, and attempted to escape.
But residents, enraged by the killing, quickly mobilised and confronted the attackers. In the chaos, one of the gunmen was lynched, while the rest fled into the night.
A close associate of the late businessman described him as a pillar of support to the poor in Lafia.
“He was more than a businessman; he was family to many of us. His generosity was unmatched. The entire community is shattered by his death,” the source told newsmen.
Mourners thronged his residence early Monday morning, with burial arrangements scheduled for 2:00 p.m. according to Islamic rites.
As of press time, neither the Nasarawa State Government nor security agencies had released an official statement on the incident.
Bandits murder Lafia business mogul, residents kill one suspect in retaliation
