The families and colleagues of 16 hunters lynched in Uromi, Edo State, have issued a stern warning, threatening to “take the law into their own hands” if the government fails to arrest and prosecute those responsible for the killings.
The hunters, who were reportedly travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kano State for the Sallah celebration, were intercepted and lynched by vigilantes at Goodwill Junction, along Old Ilushi Road, on suspicion of being kidnappers.
The gruesome killing has sparked nationwide outrage and condemnation. The majority of the victims hailed from Toranke, in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State, where mourning has turned to anger and demands for justice.
Community leaders, families, and friends of the victims have called for swift government action to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.
Alhaji Musa Dogo, a community leader and hunter, said, “We cannot allow this to go unanswered. If the government does not arrest and publicly prosecute those responsible, we will take matters into our own hands. We know how to track down those who commit evil.” Another hunter, Bala Danburan, echoed the sentiment, vowing, “We know how to sneak into Uromi and take revenge ourselves if justice is not served. This is not a threat; it is a promise.”
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, has issued a stern warning against any group planning reprisals over the recent killings, stating that security agencies will clamp down on those fuelling tensions.
The Edo State government has reached out to the affected families in Kano to douse tensions, and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) have arrested two principal suspects involved in the killing.
The arrested suspects have been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation and prosecution by relevant authorities.
Discussions between the Edo and Kano State governments are ongoing to determine the appropriate form of compensation for the victims’ families.
