Tears flowed freely in Uromi, Edo State, on Saturday as 19 hunters lynched by a mob were laid to rest in a solemn burial attended by members of the Hausa community. The victims were burnt to death on Friday after being mistakenly accused of being kidnappers.
The tragic incident occurred when the hunters, who were traveling in a Dangote Cement truck, were intercepted by local security guards. Upon discovering dane guns in the vehicle, the guards raised an alarm, prompting a violent mob attack that led to the gruesome killings.
A video posted on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama captured the painful burial rites, showing the moment the shrouded bodies were placed in large communal graves. The man filming the scene, speaking in Hausa, led prayers for the victims, calling for divine mercy upon their souls.
A grieving mother was seen clutching the grave’s edge, wailing, “My son was not a kidnapper! He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!” A father held onto the photograph of his slain son, his face etched with grief.
The Ojuromi of Uromi, Anselm Aidenojie II, who visited the burial site alongside Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, strongly condemned the killings and assured the public that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“These men have been buried, and hopefully, such a tragedy will never happen again in our community or anywhere else,” he stated.
Edo State Police Command confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects linked to the killings. The Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, assured that investigations were ongoing and that all those involved would face the full weight of the law.
Meanwhile, northern governors have initiated efforts to prevent reprisals in their states. The Director-General of Press Affairs to the Northern Governors’ Forum Chairman, Ismaila Misili, reassured the public that peace and stability were being prioritized.
“Governors across the North are engaging stakeholders and religious leaders to ensure calm ahead of the Eid el-Fitr celebrations,” Misili stated.
The Nasarawa State Government has also placed security agencies on high alert, warning against any retaliatory attacks. Governor Abdullahi Sule’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, emphasized that security forces were on standby to prevent any form of unrest.
In Borno State, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, revealed that the government was still assessing the situation. However, the police command confirmed increased security deployments to maintain order, particularly during the Sallah celebrations.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with calls for justice gaining momentum. A Social Democratic Party (SDP) member, Ibrahim Sanusi, has placed a ₦1 million bounty on the suspects, urging the public to help identify those involved.
His post on X, which read, “₦1 million reward for anyone who can identify these criminals and provide information leading to their arrest,” has gained thousands of engagements.
However, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) have urged caution, stressing that justice should be pursued through legal channels rather than vigilante actions.
Meanwhile, a petition demanding justice for the victims, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and other top officials, has gained over 273 signatures within hours of being launched on Change.org.
As investigations continue, authorities and community leaders across Nigeria are urging restraint to prevent further violence. The tragedy in Uromi has once again highlighted the dangers of mob justice, with calls growing louder for increased public awareness and stronger legal measures to curb such incidents.
