Jungle Justice: Killing Of 7 Travellers Suspected To Be Kidnappers In Uromi Is Barbaric – Okpebholo —Visits Scene Of Incident

By Raphael Okhiria

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has condemned in strong terms the setting ablaze of some suspected kidnappers by residents of a community in Uromi, East North East Local Government Area of the state.

Describing the act as barbaric and condemnable, the Governor represented by the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Government House, SP Solomon Osaghale, vowed to ensure that the perpetuators are brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law. He stressed that such a barbaric act is strange in our climes and will not be tolerated in the State.

SP Osaghale said he was in Uromi on the instance of the Governor to ascertain the level of damage done and to ensure that prompt a investigation is carried out to ensure justice and forestall a reoccurrence.

He revealed that investigations have shown that the people who were killed had boarded a commercial truck and was stopped by members of local security who upon search of the vehicle, discovered some guns, a situation that led to the mob attack by persons around the vicinity.

While condemning the act, he reinstated that nobody has the right to take another man’s life, stressing that the nature of the barbaric killing was a cause of concern to the Governor.

SP Oseghale said: “His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo on getting the news of this incident, directed me to immediately come here and find out what transpired as the news of what happened here is a sign of worry to our Governor whose desire is to create a prosperous State void of dastardly acts like this.

“I can assure you that the people involved in this unprovoked attacked will not go scot -free, as His Excellency has directed the Commissioner of Police to launch a full scale investigation into the matter. As I speak now, over four persons have been arrested for their involvement in this ugly incidence,” he said.

The CSO called for calm, while assuring the law abiding residents of Uromi, especially the Hausa Community in the area to go about their daily activities, as men of the Nigerian police force and other security agencies have been deployed to restore peace and normalcy to the place.

Appreciating the Governor for his swift response, 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.

Mallam Haruna acknowledged that their presence has brought calm and reassurance to the Hausa Community in the area, as there was palpable fear and unease in their camp following the unfortunate incidence which he noted has never happened before in the local government

Haruna said: “We want to sincerely thank the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo for his swift response to the occurrence of this ugly incidence. I must tell you that this is the first time a thing like this is happening in Uromi and it baffles me because, Uromi people have been so accommodating to us in the Hausa Community.

“Over the years, we have lived peacefully among the indigenes. Our sojourn in this land has spanned over seventy years. I was given birth to here, and so are many other people you are seeing here today.”

Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo, has received a sad report of an incident in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the State on Thursday, March 27. 2025, leading to unwarranted murder and arson.

The State Government strongly condemns the barbaric act allegedly committed by members of a local vigilante.

Initial reports indicate that the victims were travelling through the town from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when they were intercepted on suspicion of being criminals by the local vigilante members.

Senator Okpebholo who visited the town on Friday to access the situation, expressed dismay over the heinous killings. He condemned the action of the vigilante members in the strongest terms and promised justice for the victims.

The Governor said there is no excuse for the vigilante members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies.

He directed the State Police Command and other security agencies to conduct thorough and speedy investigations into the matter and bring those found culpable to book. He also charged the community to work with the security agencies to fish out the culprits.

Governor Okpebholo also commended community leaders, especially the leadership of Arewa community in the area, for descalating tensions and handling the situation with restrain.

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