President Bola Tinubu and a few of the nation’s governors have denounced the horrific killing of sixteen travelers in Uromi, Edo State, by a vengeful mob.
While the President ordered a manhunt for the killers, the governors joined in demanding justice for the victims.
Mistaken identity
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the victims, who claimed to be hunters, were travelling in a Dangote Cement truck when they were accosted around 1.30pm in Udune Efandion community by local security.
Upon searching the vehicle, dane guns were reportedly discovered, which triggered the mob attack.
A disturbing video obtained by our correspondents on X captured the moment the victims were lynched.
In the 29-second clip, the travellers could be heard wailing and pleading for their lives as the crowd beat them to a stupor and set them ablaze.
“Please, please, wayo, wayo,” one of the victims wailed.
Shockingly, some residents went about their activities, seemingly unbothered by the brutal scene unfolding before them.
An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as John, said the mob mistook the travellers for kidnappers.
He said, “After seeing the travellers with guns, the vigilantes raised the alarm, as people descended on them. How could they be carrying arms from wherever they were coming from? Are they hunters? What were they doing in a Dangote Cement truck with guns? I think the people were frustrated by frequent kidnaps in the area. However, they should have handed them over to the police.”
The gory video also showed a resident using a wheelbarrow to throw one of the victims into the raging fire.
A female voice in the background was heard saying, “Eyah, he is crying,” as the violence continued.
A man dressed in a white T-shirt and black jeans was seen directing the attack, while another male voice in the mob mocked the victims.
A resident, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, criticised the police for arriving late at the scene.
“If the police had arrived early enough, this tragedy could have been prevented. But by the time they arrived, only four people could be saved, and they were rushed to a hospital,” he stated.
16 travellers killed
Reacting to the incident, the Edo State Police Command confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects.
The command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, in a statement on Friday, noted that an emergency meeting was convened with stakeholders and members of the community to address the situation.
He said a unit of the Police Mobile Force personnel with other tactical teams had been deployed in the area to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Yamu cautioned against any form of reprisals or unlawful gatherings that might further escalate tension.
Narrating what led to the mob attack, the police spokesman said, “The incident occurred when a truck, with registration number KKF 225 XA, coming from Port Harcourt, conveying 25 travellers from Elele, a suburb of Rivers State, was accosted by some vigilante group members at Uromi, and some of the travellers who were found in possession of locally-made dane guns were arrested.
“While this was ongoing, some vigilante members raised the alarm of them being suspected kidnappers, which led some members and passersby in the community to attack and lynch 16 of the occupants, while the truck conveying them was equally burnt.
“Police operatives attached to the Uromi division got wind of the incident and swiftly stormed the scene where 10 of the travellers were rescued, two of whom sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to a hospital, where they are currently positively responding to treatment.”
A source in Edo State confirmed that 16 of the travellers died from the mob attack.
Tinubu, NGF order manhunt
President Tinubu, in a statement on Friday, directed the police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits.
The President, who expressed shock at the dastardly act, commiserated with the families of the affected victims and assured them that the criminals would be brough to book.
“The President noted that jungle justice has no place in Nigeria, and all Nigerians have the freedom to move freely in any part of the country,” the statement read.
Also, the Northern States Governors’ Forum condemned in strong terms the killing of the travellers.
The Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, described the attack as a gross violation of human rights, stressing that extrajudicial violence must be condemned with severity.
In a press statement signed by the Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, the NSGF chairman expressed condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by the tragic event.
Yahaya said, “We are deeply disturbed by the loss of innocent lives and the horrific manner in which these individuals were attacked.
“This appalling act undermines the rule of law and the very fabric of our society. It is imperative that the relevant authorities conduct a full and thorough investigation into this senseless act. The perpetrators must be identified, arrested, and brought to justice swiftly.”
He reiterated that all Nigerians, regardless of their region, should be able to travel freely and safely without fear of harassment, violence, or intimidation.
Yahaya urged the government and law enforcement agencies to take swift action to prevent such incidents from recurring while also appealing for calm.
Atiku, Okpebholo, Obi demand justice
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement on his verified X handle on Friday, stressed that the protection of lives must remain a top priority at all levels of government.
He wrote, “I am deeply saddened by reports of the tragic killing of some hunters in Edo State. My heartfelt condolences go out to their families and loved ones. This unfortunate incident demands a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation to uncover the truth and ensure that those responsible are brought to book. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done to restore public confidence in our security institutions.”
The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, while condemning the attack, described it as barbaric and vicious.
Represented by the Chief Security Officer of Government House, SP Solomon Osaghale, the governor vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He stressed that such acts would not be tolerated in the state and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to ensure justice.
The governor said, “I can assure you that those involved in this unprovoked attack will not go scot-free, as His Excellency has directed the Commissioner of Police to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter. As we speak, over four persons have been arrested for their involvement in this ugly incident.”
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in a statement on his X handle, said the killings were “deeply saddening.”
He added that the tragic incident underscored the need for a justice system that would uphold the rule of law and protect every citizen, regardless of background.
Obi stressed that mob justice posed a significant threat to societal stability and called on security agencies to intensify efforts in curbing such lawless actions.
“Reports indicate that these individuals were accused of being kidnappers, leading to their brutal murder by a mob. While addressing security concerns and combating criminal activities is crucial, resorting to extrajudicial measures undermines the rule of law and exacerbates the cycle of violence. I commend the government for condemning this incident and initiating an investigation. Furthermore, the authorities should also address the killings of Edo indigenes to ensure that justice is served for all,” he said.
Also a former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in a Facebook post, noted that every Nigerian had the right to travel freely without fear of harassment or intimidation.
He wrote, “I am concerned by the harrowing display of mob injustice on 16 travellers from Northern Nigeria in Edo State. This tragedy, which unfolded on March 27, 2025, in the Udune Efandion community of Uromi, is another sad reminder of the barbarity of jungle justice.” He also called on authorities to initiate a thorough investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.
It’s horrifying injustice – Arewa
Also, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum condemned the brutal act in a statement issued in Kaduna on Friday by its President General, Yerima Shetima.
The AYCF described the incident as a “horrifying display of mob injustice” fueled by false accusations and ignorance.
The forum demanded immediate and thorough investigations into the tragedy, calling for swift and decisive action against those responsible.
It also urged the Hausa community to remain calm and peaceful, and to resist the temptation for retaliation while seeking justice through lawful means.
According to Shetima, the forum stands ready to support the community in advocating their rights and ensuring that such an atrocity is never repeated.
Speaking on the issue, the leader of the Hausa Community in Uromi, Mallam Aliyu Haruna, thanked Governor Okpebholo for deploying the CSO and other security personnel to the community.
He acknowledged that their presence brought calm and reassurance to the Hausa community in the area, as there was palpable fear and unease in their camp following the unfortunate incident.
Haruna said, “This is the first time a thing like this has happened in Uromi, and it baffles me because the people of Uromi have been so accommodating to us. Over the years, we have lived peacefully among the indigenous people. Our sojourn in this land has spanned over seventy years. I was born here, and so are many other people you see here today.”
PDP condemns mob act
Meanwhile, the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party also condemned the mob attack.
The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the state, Tony Aziegbemi, said having suffered repeated killings, abductions, and rapes of their women, children, and men in the past few months, the indigenes of the state had become paranoid due to the lack of intervention by the state governor and the security apparatus.
Aziegbemi said, “With seven people burnt alive in just one day and several other killings numbering over 100 in the past few months, the PDP is therefore calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make the necessary call and declare a state of emergency in Edo State, as the mayhem currently ongoing in the state far exceeds the skirmishes that happened in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency there. We sympathise with the families of the victims of these unfortunate and mindless killings and pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Barau decries killings
Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau , on Friday, condemned the murder of the travelling hunters.
Barau, in a condolence message issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, described the killings as barbaric and inhumane, assuring that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.
The Kano politician lamented that his phones had not stopped ringing since news of the murder spread to his constituency.
He also hinted that he would sponsor a motion in the Senate to ensure that those responsible for the killings were held accountable.
He said, “I have been inundated with calls by my constituents and other Nigerians on the horrific murder of innocent individuals in Edo State. I condemn in totality the barbaric killing of innocent Nigerians.
“I hereby appeal to our security agencies to quickly swing into action to arrest these evildoers and ensure that they are punished in line with the gravity of their criminal acts.
“Nigeria is a diverse country. We should, therefore, embrace one another as brothers and sisters for our progress and development.”
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