Mob in Edo State Kills 16 Northern Travellers After False Kidnapping Accusation

A mob in the Udune Efandion community of Uromi, Edo State, has brutally killed at least 16 travellers from Northern Nigeria after falsely accusing them of being kidnappers. The victims, mostly Hausa hunters, were traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah festivities when they were intercepted by members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday at approximately 1:30 pm, quickly escalated when the sight of the travellers’ hunting guns, commonly used in the North, was misinterpreted as a threat. Rather than alerting security agencies, vigilantes raised an alarm, triggering violent unrest.

A security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, confirmed the attack in a statement on social media, sparking widespread outrage over the extrajudicial killings. He explained that local youths, incited by the false accusations, carried out the attack, leaving 16 people dead on the spot. The mob then set the victims’ truck ablaze, with some bodies still inside. Others were dragged out and thrown into the fire.

Security operatives responded to the scene following a distress call but arrived too late to prevent the killings. However, four survivors were rescued and taken to His Grace Hospital in Uromi for urgent medical attention. Authorities have confirmed the arrest of five suspects in connection with the violence.

In the aftermath, the Hausa community in Uromi held an emergency peace meeting to prevent further reprisals. Meanwhile, Edo State Police Command spokesperson Moses Joel Yamu stated that investigations are ongoing, assuring that further details will be provided in due course.