The families and colleagues of the 16 victims of uromi killing in Edo State have vowed to take revenge. They threatened to sneak into Edo State if the State Government failed to take necessary action regarding the incident.
In a message to the newsmen, the families issued a stern warning. Threatened to “take the law into their own hands” if those responsible for the killings are not arrested and prosecuted.
It could be recalled that the hunters, who were reportedly travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kano State for the Sallah celebration, were intercepted at Goodwill Junction along Old Ilushi Road by vigilantes who accused them of being kidnappers.
As a result, they were lynched in an act that has since sparked outrage and widespread condemnation across Nigeria. It was gathered that the victims mostly hailed from Toranke in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State.
Meanwhile, the people of the community have been calling for justice. Many expressing doubts over the government’s commitment to ensuring accountability.
Community leaders and relatives of the deceased, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, made their anger clear. They warned that the consequences of inaction could be severe.
“We cannot allow this to go unanswered. If the government does not arrest and publicly prosecute those responsible, we will take matters into our own hands. We know how to track down those who commit evil,” Alhaji Musa Dogo, a prominent hunter and community leader said.
Similarly, another hunter, Bala Danburan, stated bluntly, “We know how to sneak into Uromi and take revenge ourselves if justice is not served. This is not a threat; it is a promise.”
Alhaji Usman Bako, another resident of Bunkure, not only condemned the killings but also criticised the government. He condemned the marginalisation of local security groups such as hunters, who often assist in rural security efforts.
“If this continues, we may be forced to withdraw from joint operations,” he warned. He claimed that the fallout from the incident could have broader implications on national security collaboration at the grassroots level.
It should be noted that the uromi killing incident has generated media reactions in recent days. Some commenters condemned the hunters for moving with guns amid the security situation the country.
