Mob kills ’16’ Kano-bound hunters in Edo

At least 16 hunters of northern extraction travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, were on Thursday reportedly attacked and killed by members of a local vigilante group in Edo state.

The incident happened on the Uromi/Obajana expressway under the Esan north-east LGA of Edo.

TheCable understands that a truck carrying 25 travellers from Elele, Rivers, was intercepted by a vigilante group in Uromi.

According to witnesses, some travellers were found with locally made dane guns which raised suspicion among the vigilante members.

The travellers were attacked and lynched after some vigilante members raised the alarm, suspecting that they were kidnappers.

Ten of the travellers were rescued, while two who were injured were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo, who visited the town on Friday to assess the situation, expressed dismay over the “heinous killings”.

“He condemned the actions of the vigilante members in the strongest terms and promised justice for the victims,” Fred Itua, the chief press secretary to the governor, said in a statement.

“The governor said there is no excuse for the vigilante members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies.

“The governor directed the state police command and other security agencies to conduct thorough and speedy investigations into the matter and bring those found culpable to book. He also charged the community to work with the security agencies to fish out the culprits.

“Governor Okpebholo also commended community leaders, especially the leadership of the Arewa community in the area, for descalating tensions and handling the situation with restraint.”