The incident reportedly took place on Thursday when the victims, who were mostly Hausa hunters, were traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebrations.
At least 16 travelers from Northern Nigeria were brutally killed in the Udune Efandion community of Uromi, Edo State, after being accused of being kidnappers.
It has been reported that the incident occurred on Thursday when the victims, mostly Hausa hunters, were journeying from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah festivities.
Sources from SaharaReporters indicated that they were stopped around 1:30 PM by members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes.
Reports indicate that a furious mob took matters into their own hands.
Zagazola Makama, a security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, verified the incident on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Friday, which incited outrage over the extrajudicial killings.
He stated, “The sight of their hunting guns, which are Dane guns typically used in the North, was misread as a threat. Instead of alerting the police or other security agencies, local vigilantes raised a false alarm, igniting a wave of chaos and violence.
“The response was immediate and horrific. Local youths, agitated by the baseless allegations, savagely attacked the travelers, leading to the tragic deaths of 16 individuals on the spot. In a horrific act of brutality, the mob set the truck on fire, with some bodies remaining trapped inside the vehicle.
“Some victims were removed using a wheelbarrow and tossed into the flames. This gruesome spectacle starkly illustrates the disturbing reality of mob justice that has become prevalent in specific communities.”
He observed that any prompt action from security forces came too late for the victims.
“By the time they reached the location after a distress call, the harm had already been done. Four survivors were saved and taken to His Grace Hospital in Uromi for immediate medical care.”
He mentioned that authorities have confirmed the detention of five suspects.
Zagazola also noted that the Hausa community in Uromi convened an emergency peace meeting to address the matter and sought to avert any further retaliation.
When SaharaReporters reached out to Moses Joel Yamu, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, he said, “I am still in the process of gathering facts. I will definitely get back to you. I prefer not to provide incomplete information.”
