Full Details About 16 Northern Hunters Killed By Mob In Edo At least 16 hunters of northern extraction travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, were on Thursday reportedly invaded and killed by members of a local vigilante group in Edo state.
The incident occurred on the Uromi/Obajana expressway under the Esan north-east LGA of Edo.
The Round Table understands that a truck carrying 25 travellers from Elele, Rivers, was intercepted by a vigilante group in Uromi.
According to witnesses, a few travellers were found with locally made dane guns which exalted suspicion amidst the vigilante members.
The travellers were assaulted and lynched after more or less vigilante members exacerbated the alarm, suspecting that they were kidnappers.
Ten of the travellers were evacuated, while two who were injured were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo, who visited the town on Friday to analyse the situation, expressed dismay over the “heinous killings”.
“He chastised the actions of the vigilante members in the strongest terms and promised justice for the victims,” Fred Itua, the chief press secretary to the governor, revealed in a statement.
“The governor disclosed there is no excuse for the vigilante members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies.
“The governor directed the state police command and other security agencies to conduct absolute and speedy investigations into the matter and bring those found culpable to book. He likewise billed the community to work with the security agencies to fish out the culprits.
“Governor Okpebholo likewise applauded community leaders, supremely the leadership of the Arewa community in the area, for descalating tensions and handling the situation with restraint.”
President Tinubu Intervenes, Orders Immediate Arrest of the Killer's
President Bola Tinubu criticized the gruesome murder of the travelling hunters “intercepted” by more or less members of a local vigilante in the Esan north LGA of Edo state.
Reacting in a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, stated Tinubu ordered the police and other security agencies to swiftly probe and bring the suspects to justice.
Tinubu consoled the victims’ families, assuring them that perpetrators would not be permitted to spill innocent Nigerians’ blood without competing with justice for their crimes.
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The president inserted that “jungle justice has no place in Nigeria,” noting that every citizen has the right to travel freely across all regions of the country.
He likewise extolled Okpebholo and community leaders in Uromi for their swift response to avert the escalation of unrest.
14 Arrested Within 24 Hours In Connection With The Killing of Northern Hunters
The Edo police command announces its operatives have arrested 14 suspects in reciprocity with the killing of 16 travellers and the torching of their truck in Uromi town.
In a statement on Friday evening, Moses Yamu, the police spokesperson in Edo, stated members of the vigilante group found more or less locally made guns with them, sparking suspicion that they were kidnappers.
“While this was ongoing, a few vigilante members exalted an alarm, claiming the travellers were suspected kidnappers,” the statement reads.
“This led a few community members and passers-by to attack and lynch 16 occupants, and the truck conveying them was further set on fire.
“Police operatives from the Uromi Division got wind of the incident and swiftly moved to the scene.
“In the course of investigations, 14 suspects have been arrested in correlation with the crime.
“An emergency meeting was further assembled with stakeholders and community members.”
The police spokesperson stated the command is committed to securing justice for the victims, appending that every possible mass would be taken in the ongoing investigation.
Yamu superposed that a unit of mobile police amplitude and other tactical teams have been sent to the area to prevent any further disturbance of law and order.
Betty Otimenyin, Edo police commissioner, urged groups to coexist peacefully and summoned on residents to continue calm and cooperate with the security operatives.
The commissioner subjoined that any mode of reprisal attack or unlawful gathering that could intensify tensions should be avoided.
Category: World-News
Tag: Full Details About 16 Northern Hunters Killed By Mob In Edo
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Published 3/29/2025