- A 16-year-old boy, identified as Jacob Danladi (pseudonym), has allegedly shot and killed his 15-year-old friend, Titus Joseph, in Kwamba, Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
- The incident occurred while the teenagers were playing with a loaded Dane gun belonging to the suspect’s father, a local vigilante member.
- Both the teenager and his father have been arrested by the police on charges of negligence and culpable homicide.
A play session turned into a nightmare in Kwamba, Suleja, as a 16-year-old boy accidentally claimed the life of his friend using his father’s service weapon.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the victim, 15-year-old Titus Joseph, was reportedly shot in the stomach at close range on March 1, 2026, while the two were at the suspect’s residence.
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The weapon involved was a fully loaded Dane gun belonging to the suspect’s father, popularly known as “Baba,” who serves as a member of a local vigilante group.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the boys were handling the firearm when it discharged, leading to Titus’s immediate and tragic death.
Following the incident, police personnel from the Maje Division were deployed to the scene. The victim’s body was subsequently evacuated to the Suleja General Hospital for medical examination.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Niger State Police Command moved swiftly to arrest both the young suspect and his father.
The father faces allegations of criminal negligence for leaving a loaded firearm accessible to minors, while the teenager is being investigated for culpable homicide.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the arrests in a statement released on Friday, March 13.
He disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for a more discreet and thorough investigation. Abiodun emphasized that once investigations are concluded, the suspects will be charged to court.
This tragic event has once again raised serious concerns regarding the storage of firearms by local security operatives and vigilante members.
Community leaders in Suleja have called for stricter regulations and safety training for vigilante groups to prevent such avoidable loss of life in the future. The grieving family of Titus Joseph is currently awaiting justice as the legal proceedings commence.
