A 19-year-old man, Sefilahi Danlami, was reportedly beaten to death by a group of scavengers, locally known as “pantekas,” at Panteka Market in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday. The incident followed accusations by one scavenger, identified as Ibrahim Dahiru, who alleged that Danlami had stolen from him.
Witnesses recount that Dahiru attempted unsuccessfully to apprehend Danlami before calling for assistance. Several of his colleagues joined the chase, eventually catching up with Danlami and allegedly assaulting him until he succumbed to his injuries. One resident of Mpape, who preferred anonymity, stated, “The pantekas caught him and beat him to death in their market. After realizing he was dead, they fled the scene. This isn’t the first time; the police should address the recurrent issues caused by these scavengers here.”
The FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, adding that Dahiru, aged 22, has been apprehended. “The incident is a case of culpable homicide at Panteka market in Mpape, FCT. A distress call was received by the Mpape Police Division, and our officers were dispatched promptly. Preliminary findings show that the suspect, Dahiru, had called on seven others, who remain at large, to assist in attacking the deceased. The investigation is ongoing,” Adeh said.
The killing occurs just days after FCT Commissioner of Police Tunji Disu toured scavenger markets across Abuja, issuing a stern warning against criminal activities among scavengers. The police have vowed to continue their investigations to bring all individuals involved to justice.
