Governors Take Action to Prevent Reprisals as 16 Lynched Hunters Are Buried in Edo

Tensions ran high in Uromi, Edo State, on Saturday as the remains of 16 hunters who were lynched and burned by a mob were laid to rest. Members of the Hausa community gathered at the cemetery to pay their final respects to the victims, who were accused of being kidnappers before being brutally killed on Friday.

Reports indicate that the victims were traveling in a Dangote Cement truck when local security guards stopped them around 1:30 p.m. A search of the vehicle revealed dane guns, triggering an alarm that led to the deadly attack. Footage of the burial, shared on social media by security analyst Zagazola Makama, showed grieving community members offering funeral prayers as the wrapped bodies were placed in a mass grave. A woman was seen clinging to the edge of the grave, lamenting the unjust killing of her son, while a father held onto a photograph of his slain child.

The Ojuromi of Uromi, Anselm Aidenojie II, visited the grieving Hausa community alongside Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo. Both leaders condemned the attack and assured residents that security forces were working to prevent retaliatory violence. The state police confirmed that 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

In response to rising tensions, northern governors have initiated efforts to maintain peace and prevent reprisals. Ismaila Misili, spokesperson for the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), stated that governors have been engaging with religious and community leaders to ensure stability, particularly as the Eid el-Fitr celebrations approach. The Nasarawa State Government also placed security forces on high alert, warning against any acts that could incite violence. Borno State officials confirmed they were closely monitoring the situation, while police in the state increased security patrols.

Meanwhile, outrage over the killings has spread across northern communities, with some social media users placing a bounty on suspects believed to be involved. Ibrahim Sanusi, a Social Democratic Party (SDP) member, offered a N1 million reward for information leading to arrests. However, the Coalition of Northern Groups and the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum warned against vigilante justice, urging authorities to handle the case.

Concerned individuals, including Sanusi and over 100 others, have launched a petition addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, and the Edo State Governor. They are demanding a thorough investigation and swift prosecution of the perpetrators. Survivors of the attack have also come forward to recount their ordeal, insisting that they were licensed hunters and not criminals. One survivor described how vigilantes stopped their vehicle, accused them of terrorism, and handed them over to the mob before the attack escalated.

Calls for justice have intensified, with the House of Representatives condemning the killings and demanding accountability. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas described the incident as a “barbaric violation of human rights,” stressing the need for law enforcement to prevent such tragedies. Prominent figures, including former Minister Isa Pantami and human rights lawyer Femi Falana, have also spoken out, calling for immediate arrests and prosecutions.

The Northern Senators Forum denounced the killings, warning against ethnic profiling and demanding swift justice. The Sultan of Sokoto-led Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and Hausa community leaders in Jos also condemned the attack, urging the federal government to take concrete action to prevent further violence.

As investigations continue, security agencies remain on high alert across multiple states, working to prevent further unrest and ensure justice for the slain hunters.