Connect with us

Crime

Lynched Edo travellers: Governors move against reprisals as 16 slain hunters buried

Published

on

21 Views

Tears flowed on Saturday in Uromi, Edo State, as the remains of the hunters who were lynched by a mob were interred.

Members of the Hausa community converged on the community cemetery to pay their last respects to the victims, who were burnt to death on Friday after being accused of being kidnappers.

It was earlier reported that the men were travelling in a Dangote Cement truck when they were intercepted around 1.30pm by local security guards.

After the guards searched the truck and found dane guns, they raised the alarm, which triggered the mob attack.

19 hunters buried’

A video of the funeral rites posted on X by a security analyst, Zagazola Makama, showed the moment the victims were buried.

The 1 minute 29 seconds clip captured members of the Hausa community in a solemn mood as the wrapped corpses were placed beside large graves.

The man filming the burial, who spoke in Hausa, said, “Assalamualaikum, this time we will pray for the bodies of our brothers who were killed for us—those who were massacred. May God bless them with mercy, forgive them, and accept their martyrdom for the sake of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

“Here is the Muslim community; they have gathered now and will be offering funeral prayers for our brothers who were killed. Now, we will offer the prayer for them.

”An imam subsequently began praying on the bodies, marking the commencement of the rites.

The man behind the filming said the death toll had increased to 19.

“Remember yesterday (Friday): the bodies of three people were brought to us, and we were able to pray for them. But now, 16 more corpses have also been brought, and we will pray for them. May God Almighty forgive them.

“Look at their graves here. Because there are so many of them, it is not possible to dig individual graves for each one. Instead, they will be buried together in one place,” he stated.

The security analyst, Makama, said a mother clutched to the grave’s edge as she lamented the killing of her son.

“My son was not a kidnapper! He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!” she sobbed.

He also said a father held to the photograph of his slain son.

The Ojuromi of Uromi, Anselm Aidenojie II, who visited the Hausa community alongside Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, during the burial, condemned the killings, noting that security agencies were taking measures to avert reprisals.

Aidenojie stressed that those responsible for the killings would be brought to justice.

“They (the victims) have been buried, and hopefully, this will never happen again in our community or anywhere else,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, in a statement, had said 14 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

Northern governors move to stop reprisals

Meanwhile, it was gathered that northern governors had started making moves to strengthen peace and forstall reprisals in the region.

The Director-General (Press Affairs) to the NGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Ismaila Misili, said, “Let me unequivocally state that there is no tension in the North over the unfortunate incident in Edo State.

“Recall that northern governors, through their Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, had already issued a statement calling for calm and restraint.

“Individual governors in the North have also proactively engaged with relevant stakeholders to ensure peace, especially ahead of the Eid el-Fitr celebrations.

“Religious leaders also continue to promote peaceful coexistence and discourage any actions that might disrupt the harmony we have worked diligently to establish.

”Also, the Nasarawa State Government, while condemning the killings, called on security agencies to prosecute the perpetrators.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, said security agencies had been placed on red alert to safeguard all 13 LGAs in the state.

He urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, warning that anyone found disturbing the peace would be arrested.

“Governor Abdullahi Sule has said that no matter what, we must maintain peace in Nasarawa State. We have no room for such dastardly acts as seen in Edo.

“Security agencies have been placed on red alert to ensure that nothing untoward happens anywhere in the state regarding any reprisal attacks,” he said.

But the Borno State Government said it was still assessing the situation.

Speaking with newsmen, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said the state had yet to receive any directive from the Northern Governors’ Forum.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Police Command said it had stepped up security patrols for the Sallah celebration.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, said strategic police deployments had been made to maintain order.

“What we currently have on the ground is Sallah preparation. We have deployed personnel in strategic positions. We are also conducting a show of force, which involves patrolling to ensure visibility.

This will help prevent any incidents that could lead to unrest, particularly those with religious undertones,” Daso said.

Politician places bounty on suspects

On social media, there was palpable anger among the Arewa on Saturday as some individuals also took to X, sharing images of some of the suspected attackers and placing N1m bounty on them.

A Social Democratic Party member based in Abuja, Ibrahim Sanusi, was among those spearheading the movement.

While posting on his verified X handle, he wrote, “N1million reward for anyone who can identify these criminals and provide information leading to their arrest. If you have any information, please come forward. #JusticeForUromi16.”

As of the time of filing this report, over 1,500 tweeps had retweeted the post, while it had gathered 3,600 likes and 124 quotes.

However, the Coalition of Northern Groups and the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum condemned the resort to self-help, warning that it could escalate tension across the country.

The CNG National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, acknowledged that while the killing of innocent hunters was reprehensible, law enforcement agencies must be allowed to handle the matter.

“All we demand is for the police to expedite investigations so that the real perpetrators can be identified and brought to justice. This will help reduce tensions in the North,” he stated.

Charanchi further argued that no individual or group had the right to place a bounty on anyone, stressing that the law must take its course.

Similarly, the AYCF President, Yerima Shettima, cautioned against any form of retaliation, stressing that justice must be pursued within the framework of the law.

Northerners petition Tinubu, IGP, othersMeanwhile, Sanusi and over 100 others have launched a petition on Change.org, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Edo State Governor, Okpebholo.

As of 7pm on Saturday, no fewer than 273 people had signed the petition, demanding justice for the victims.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Eight Arrested in Lagos for Public Urination and Breach of Peace

Published

on

58 Views

The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, also known as KAI, has arrested and arraigned eight persons over offences related to public urination and disturbance of public peace in the Yaba area of Lagos.

This was disclosed by the Corps Marshal of the agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), during a media briefing held at the command headquarters in Bolade, Oshodi.

“As the premier enforcement Agency in the State with operatives situated across 21 Divisions in the State, we must not allow public indecency such as open urination and defecation to fester undeterred and this daily monitoring of Lagos environs lead to the arraignment and prosecution of 8 offenders in the same vein and we remain unshaken,” he stated.

Major Cole confirmed that the eight suspects were brought before Magistrate Oshikoya of the Special Offences (Mobile Court) in Oshodi, where they were charged with offences under Section 168(1)(d) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015, which addresses breach of public peace, and Section 5(1) of the Lagos State Public Health Law, 2015, which prohibits open urination.

The Corps Marshal further explained that the court sentenced the offenders to one month in prison.

He emphasized that the ruling serves as a strong deterrent to others who may consider engaging in similar acts of public indecency.

Continue Reading

Crime

Salome Adaidu: Court Sentences her Killer to death by hanging

Salome, 24-year-old, was a serving corps member recently murdered by the 31-year-old convict when she visited him at his residence…

Published

on

By

75 Views

Gospel singer Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, the killer of Salome Adaidu, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Salome, 24-year-old, was a serving corps member recently murdered by the 31-year-old convict when she visited him at his residence in Papaladna village of Karshi Development Area, under the Karu Local Government Area of the state.

A Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Lafia,delivered the judgement, the previous day.

Read Also:

Gospel Singer Confesses He Killed Lover ” Salome Adaidu ” Without Regret

In the judgment, trial judge, Justice Simon Aboki said that the prosecuting counsel proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt that the convict killed the victim at his residence.

The judge held that the defendant claimed that he became unconscious after having a good time with his girlfriend, and was unconscious when he wrote his confessional statement, which does not hold water.

The court found Ajayi guilty of the offence after several months of trial.

Justice Aboki stated that Ajayi was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty for persons guilty of such an offence.

“The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death.

Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Aboki ruled.

Continue Reading

Crime

IGP Egbetokun Commended for Enhance Criminal Justice Delivery

Published

on

By

56 Views

• IGP Egbetokun , flanked by the ACJMC delegation.

A delegation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) , led by its Executive Secretary, Mrs. Evbu Igbinedion, has commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun for the notable strides in enhancing swift justice delivery across the country

The ACJMC gave the commendation today, 26th June 2025, during a visit to the IGP at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.

In a statement with Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/457 Dated June 26, 2025 , ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force PRO Force Headquarters Abuja, disclosed that the delegation included prominent stakeholders in the legal and justice sector such as the Director – General of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar, and the Director of Civil and Political Rights from the National Human Rights Commission, among others.

During the meeting, the committee applauded the IGP for his progressive reforms and proactive leadership, which have significantly improved the capacity and performance of the Police within the criminal justice system.

In their remarks, the committee emphasised the central role of the Nigeria Police Force as the critical entry point to the criminal justice system, acknowledging the numerous operational challenges the Force continues to face.

They highlighted the need for sustained reform, inter-agency collaboration, and the protection of citizens’ rights, especially during arrests and investigations.

One of the key appeals presented by the committee was the resuscitation of the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) — a program enshrined in Force Order 20 and supported by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The PDSS is designed to ensure that every arrested or accused person receives prompt legal representation from the point of arrest through the investigation process, thereby reinforcing the right to a fair hearing and safeguarding against abuse.

In response, the IGP appreciated the visit and recognised the significance of such engagements in strengthening collaboration for efficient justice delivery. The IGP further affirmed that the Nigeria Police Force remains fully committed to upholding its constitutional and legal responsibilities, especially in respect to human rights protection and accountability, and assured the committee of the Force’s readiness to collaborate on its mandate, pledging the continual training and capacity building for officers to embed human rights principles into everyday policing practices.

The IGP reiterated the Force’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct and rights violations by its personnel, affirming that the current leadership of the Force is dedicated to building a professionally competent, citizen-focused police service that delivers on its core mandate of ensuring public safety, justice, and the rule of law.

Continue Reading

Trending