President Bola Tinubu and other states governors have strongly condemned the brutal murder of 16 Northerners by a mob in Uromi, Edo State.
President Tinubu, on a speech on Friday, has ordered the police and other security agencies to conduct a swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits.
News indicate that the victims, who claimed to be hunters, were traveling in a Dangote Cement truck when local security operatives stopped them in Udune Efandion community around 1:30 p.m. Upon searching the truck, the operatives reportedly found dane guns, prompting the mob to attack.
A viral disturbing video circulating on social media has captured the moment the victims were lynched, pleading and begging for their lives as they were beaten and set ablaze by the locals . Witnesses said the mob mistook them for kidnappers, acting out of frustration over frequent abductions in the area.
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“If the police or security agencies had arrived early enough, this tragedy could have been prevented,” a resident said, revealing that only four individuals were saved and rushed to the hospital.
Police confirm 16 deaths, arrest 14 suspects
The Edo State Police Command confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects and stated that security reinforcements had been deployed to prevent further unrest.
Police spokesman Moses Yamu explained that the truck, carrying 25 travellers from Rivers State, was stopped and searched, leading to suspicions that triggered the attack.
“Some vigilante members raised the alarm, calling them suspected kidnappers. This led to an angry mob attacking and killing 16 of the travellers, while the truck was set ablaze,” he said.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid taking the law into their hands and allowing the government do their job, warning against reprisals that could escalate tensions in the state.
