President Tinubu Orders Manhunt as 16 Travellers Lynched in Edo Mob Attack
Nigeria has been shaken by the horrific murder of 16 travellers in Uromi, Edo State, an act of jungle justice that has drawn nationwide condemnation, including from President Bola Tinubu and several state governors. The President has ordered an urgent manhunt for the killers, as calls for justice grow louder.
Mistaken Identity Turns Deadly
The victims, who claimed to be hunters, were travelling in a Dangote Cement truck when they were stopped by local vigilantes around 1:30 PM in Udune Efandion community. Upon searching the truck, dane guns were discovered, triggering an angry mob attack.
A gruesome video circulating on social media captured the travellers pleading for their lives as they were brutally beaten, lynched, and set ablaze. The chilling footage showed some community members going about their daily activities, seemingly unfazed by the unfolding horror.
An eyewitness, identified as John, revealed that the mob mistook the travellers for kidnappers. “After seeing the travellers with guns, the vigilantes raised the alarm, and people descended on them. However, they should have been handed over to the police,” he lamented.
A particularly disturbing scene in the video showed a resident using a wheelbarrow to dump one of the victims into the raging fire, as bystanders mocked their cries for mercy.
Delayed Police Response and Arrests
The Edo State Police Command confirmed that by the time officers arrived at the scene, the damage had been done. However, they managed to rescue ten of the travellers, two of whom sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
Police spokesman Moses Yamu stated that 14 suspects have been arrested, while tactical units, including the Police Mobile Force, have been deployed to prevent further violence. He also warned against unlawful gatherings that might escalate tensions in the community.
Tinubu and Governors Demand Justice
President Bola Tinubu, visibly disturbed by the attack, has ordered security agencies to hunt down the perpetrators and ensure they face the full weight of the law. In a statement, he expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and warned that mob justice has no place in Nigeria.
“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.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) also condemned the killings. Its chairman, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, described the act as barbaric and a gross violation of human rights. He urged authorities to swiftly arrest and prosecute those responsible, emphasizing that all Nigerians deserve to travel freely without fear.
Atiku, Okpebholo, Obi React
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also joined the chorus of outrage, demanding a full investigation. “This unfortunate incident demands a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation to ensure those responsible are brought to book. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” he wrote on X.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo described the killings as “barbaric and vicious” and vowed that his administration would not tolerate such lawlessness.
As the nation reels from this shocking act, the pressure is on law enforcement agencies to deliver swift justice and prevent future occurrences. Meanwhile, calls for community sensitization against jungle justice have intensified, as Nigerians demand a country where the rule of law prevails over mob violence.
