Edo Communities Deserted After Mob Lynching of 16 Travelers Sparks Fear of Reprisals

Edo Communities Deserted After Mob Lynching of 16 Travelers Sparks Fear of Reprisals

  • Fear has gripped Uromi communities after 16 travelers were lynched by a mob over kidnapping suspicions, prompting mass exodus of residents
  • Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo vowed justice as 14 suspects face interrogation, while the Arewa Consultative Forum demands an independent probe
  • Residents reveal deep security frustrations, with many justifying the mob action due to rampant kidnappings despite condemning the violence

Several communities along Old Ilushi Road in Uromi, Edo State, have become ghost towns as residents flee following the brutal killing of 16 travelers last Thursday.

The incident, allegedly triggered by suspicions of kidnapping, has left the area in panic, with many fearing arrests or retaliatory attacks by security forces.

African village.
The Edo state government has taken steps to prosecute the suspects alleged to have lynched the hunters to death.
Source: Getty Images

Edo governor visits Kano, pledges swift prosecution

Governor Monday Okpebholo, currently in Kano, vowed that justice would be served for the victims. During a visit to Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, he confirmed that 14 suspects had been arrested and would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.

Read also

Uromi killings: CDS, CAN, PFN react as victims' family demand justice

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has demanded an independent judicial panel to investigate the lynchings.

Fear grips Uromi as residents abandon homes

Local sources report that entire neighborhoods have emptied, with residents avoiding farms and seeking shelter in nearby towns.

A resident named Monday described the chaotic scene:

“The vigilante group received information from areas on the stretch of Old Ilushi road, from where the travellers were coming, that they had weapons in their vehicle. When they arrived in Uromi, the vigilantes asked them to step down, but the travellers refused, leading to an altercation. One of them pulled out a knife, prompting the vigilantes to raise alarm, accusing them of being kidnappers.”

While condemning the violence, some locals insisted the victims were not innocent hunters but suspected kidnappers linked to recent abductions in the area. Another resident, Mr. Akhere, explained:

“In as much as we are not justifying the killings, because two wrongs don’t make a right, these people are not hunters as claimed... Our local vigilantes have been on the trail of these suspected kidnappers.”

Read also

“How they murdered my Kano-bound passengers in Edo,” Truck driver speaks

Security crackdown and lingering tensions

Police have intensified patrols, arresting bystanders, including a motorcycle rider unaware of the prior day’s events. The crackdown has only deepened anxieties, with youths discreetly leaving Uromi.

The region’s kidnapping epidemic - often blamed on armed herders and hunters—has fueled distrust, with many arguing that security agencies have failed to protect them.

As investigations continue, Edo State grapples with the fallout of vigilante justice, exposing the fragile balance between community self-defense and mob violence in Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis.

Lucky survivors narrate how vigilantes attacked northern hunters

In a similar report, two survivors of a brutal attack on a group of northern hunters in Edo State have shared their harrowing ordeal, recounting how they were stopped, assaulted, and accused of being kidnappers, leading to killings of many by vigilantes and locals.

The incident, which occurred on Friday in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, has sparked nationwide outrage.

Read also

Edo massacre: Last moments of those killed at Uromi emerge as families make one demand

President Bola Tinubu, and other prominent Nigerians including the Edo state Governor have condemned the violence and called for a thorough investigation.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ibrahim Sofiyullaha avatar

Ibrahim Sofiyullaha (Editorial Assistant) Ibrahim Sofiyullaha is a graduate of First Technical University, Ibadan. He was the founder and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of a fast-rising campus journalism outfit at his university. Ibrahim is a coauthor of the book Julie, or Sylvia, written in collaboration with two prominent Western authors. He was ranked as the 9th best young writer in Africa by the International Sports Press Association. Ibrahim has contributed insightful articles for major platforms, including Sportskeeda in the UK and Motherly in the United States. Email: ibrahim.sofiyullaha@corp.legit.ng

Tags: