The families and colleagues of the 16 hunters killed in Uromi, Edo State, have issued a serious warning, vowing to “take the law into their own hands” if the government fails to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the brutal killings.
The hunters, who were en route from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kano State for the Sallah celebrations, were ambushed and lynched by vigilantes at Goodwill Junction along the Old Ilushi Road, under the suspicion of being kidnappers.
This tragic event has sparked outrage and condemnation across the nation.
Most of the victims hailed from Toranke in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State, where mourning has turned into anger and a demand for justice.
In interviews with The PUNCH, community leaders, family members, and friends of the deceased called for immediate government action.
Alhaji Musa Dogo, a community leader and hunter, expressed his outrage, saying, “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.”
Bala Danburan, another hunter, shared his resolve, declaring, “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 hunters also urged that the case be transferred to a Kano court to ensure both transparency and fairness. They pointed to a previous instance where the Kano State Government had transferred a suspect to Bayelsa State for trial.
Alhaji Usman Bako, a resident of Bunkure, expressed his frustration with the government’s neglect of local security outfits like hunters, who play a crucial role in combating insecurity in rural areas.
“If this continues, we may be forced to withdraw from joint operations,” he warned.
Malam Sani Umar, who lost his younger brother Yahaya in the attack, spoke about the grief that has consumed his family.
“Yahaya left behind four children and a wife. He believed in justice, but now he’s been killed unjustly.”
In a tearful interview, Hafsat Ibrahim, mother of another victim, Nasiru, demanded justice and compensation, saying, “he was the backbone of our family… The killers must be punished according to Islamic rites, and the government should compensate us.”
While the governors of Kano and Edo states recently visited the grieving families, they remain dissatisfied, insisting that words are not enough.
“We need real action. We need arrests. We need to see prosecution,” Sani Umar emphasized.
DAILY GAZETTE earlier reported that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja issued a stern warning against any group contemplating reprisals over the killings in Uromi, Edo State, stating that security agencies would take action against those stoking tensions.
Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, addressed the issue in Abuja on Thursday, claiming that political leaders from both Edo and Kano states had already “resolved” the crisis.
He mentioned that the Edo State government had made efforts to reach out to the affected families in Kano to ease tensions.
“At the political level, everything has been settled. Anybody or group trying to cause panic or issue threats will be investigated and dealt with accordingly,” Kangye stated.
The military general also rejected concerns regarding a supposed relaxation of security forces’ efforts against violent herders, terrorists, and bandits across the country.
“The military is still very much in the fight. We have neutralised many of them and will continue our onslaught against them and their leaders,” Kangye affirmed.
Despite the assurances, fears of reprisal attacks are escalating, with tensions remaining high, even after political leaders’ attempts to resolve the matter.
It was reported that operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS) arrested two principal suspects involved in the killing of the 16 individuals from northern Nigeria last week.
According to a statement by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the arrests were made following credible intelligence in Uromi.
“Operatives of the DSS have apprehended two principal suspects involved in the killing of 16 Nigerians in Uromi. The arrest was made following credible intelligence, and security forces are intensifying efforts to track down other individuals connected to the crime,” Itua said.
The arrested suspects have since been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation and prosecution by the relevant authorities.
Regarding compensation for the victims’ families, Itua clarified that discussions between the Edo and Kano State governments are ongoing to determine the appropriate form of compensation.
