How messengers of death killed AIT security man

Mallam Idris Yusuf, a security man attached to the AIT/Raypower station in Bauchi, never saw death coming. Not even when he felt compelled to confront and arrest an armed robber he encountered on the way. As a security guard, he felt duty-bound to protect lives and property whenever the situation called for it. Unfortunately his bold effort in this regard ended tragically as he was shot dead by a member of a robbery gang he tried to apprehend recently.
Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that on that fateful day Mallam Idris was on his way home from work when he ran into the messengers of death. The robbers who were said to have stolen a car approached the security man and requested that he should assist them with some petrol as the tank of their car was empty and they had no money.
Ensuing scuffle
But unknown to the thieves, the owners of the stolen car had trailed them to the place and promptly raised an alarm. They were about to run off when Idris grabbed one of the suspects oblivious that the fellow was armed with a gun. In the ensuing scuffle, the robber shot him at close range. He was taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching hospital where he gave the ghost around 4′ O clock in the morning.

*The late Mallam Idris

When VM visited the family of the late Mallam Idris in Tirwun village, a surburb of Bauchi metropolis, most members wore mournful looks as they reflected upon their loss. For the bereaved family members, things will no longer be the same as the loss was that of a valued head and breadwinner of the family. This is as they continue to receive a steady stream of sympathisers, mostly relatives, friends and AIT Raypower staff,who came to commiserate with them.
His first wife, Hajiya Rabiu Idris, told VM that the day she lost her husband, who she also considered a friend, was one she will ever live to remember with pain in her heart. According to her: “That very day, he did not come home on time as he was used to, so I thought he was on night  shift even though that was unlikely. I did not see my husband that night, so I slept, not knowing that something tragic had happened to him. The following day, I got the news that my husband was attacked and killed by armed robbers”.
She described her husband as a kind, humble and hardworking man, saying that he would ever be remembered for his good deeds and wondered why sometimes unfortunate incidents befall good people.
The late Mallam Idris’s second wife, Hajiya Hajiya Rakiya, who recently gave birth to a baby also described her husband as  a very peaceful person who did not go courting trouble. She said: “I wonder why good people don’t last. My husband never looked for trouble. He is well respected by everybody in this village because of his moral standard. I will miss him. My consolation is that his first son is employed, at least that will help fend for the family”.
Speaking with his aged mother, Hajiya Famita, she said the death of her son was unfortunate, but noted that everybody must die when the time comes.“It does not matter how one dies, what is important is that when the time comes, according to Islam religion, you must die. One can fall sick and die or one disaster or other can claim the life of a person. What matters is how the person lived his life here on earth,” she stated stoically.
The Head of Station of the AIT/Raypower, Mr. Terver Tsav,  described the deceased as a Good Samaritan who unfortunately paid the supreme price for this.
Contract staff
“He is a father to us because he was elderly. He used to advise us whenever he had the opportunity to do so. Mallam Idris started with the station when it had not developed to what it is now. He started as a contract staff and his appointment was confirmed just in November last year. So it’s very painful that somebody who has been with us on contract for long could not live to reap the fruit of his labour”.
The station cameraman, Mr. Sam Itodo, said that the death of Idris was unfortunate, adding that the security man is  the only bread winner of the family and the only male alive.
When contacted, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Auyo, said that he was not aware of the matter, saying that the Commissioner of Police was in the best position to speak.