Edo killings: Uromi residents flee over fears of reprisal attacks, arrest

Communities in Uromi, Edo State, including areas along Old Ilushi Road, Opere, and Good Will Junction, have been abandoned by residents following the lynching of 16 travellers by a mob last Thursday.

Fearing reprisals and arrests by security forces, many locals have fled the area, and some have stopped going to their farms, seeking refuge in neighboring towns.

The mass exodus is also fueled by ongoing fears of kidnapping and violence in the region.

The situation has been further exacerbated by rumors of possible attacks in nearby towns like Ekpoma, where panic led to motorists making U-turns when word spread that the town was under threat.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has assured that justice will prevail for the victims, confirming that 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings and would soon be transferred to Abuja for further questioning.

Okpebholo also pledged that compensation would be provided for the victims’ families and expressed his commitment to seeing justice done for those killed in the mob attack.

The mob action began after a vigilante group, suspecting that the travellers were kidnappers, stopped them.

Residents claimed that the vigilantes had received reports that the travellers were carrying weapons. When the travellers refused to disembark and an altercation ensued, one of them allegedly pulled out a knife, prompting the vigilantes to raise an alarm. This triggered the violent mob attack. While some locals have condemned the actions of the mob, others have expressed frustration with the government’s lack of action in curbing the growing menace of kidnapping in the area.

Some residents defended the vigilantes’ actions, arguing that the victims were likely mistaken for kidnappers, as they were reportedly seen near Ubiaja, a town known for similar criminal activity.

According to reports, the travellers boarded a truck there with guns and cash, fueling suspicions that they were involved in kidnapping activities. Others, however, criticized the decision of the vigilantes to take the law into their own hands instead of handing the suspects over to the police.

In addition to the arrests, security agencies have been deployed to maintain order, but fear of further arrests has driven many residents, especially the youth, to leave Uromi. Several individuals who had been active in securing the town fled after seeing others being detained.

The fear of reprisals is widespread, and many residents believe that the authorities are unfairly targeting the wrong people.

The local government area has been plagued by frequent kidnappings, attributed to hunters and herders from the northern regions.

A recent kidnapping on March 30, 2025, further fueled tensions in the town, as kidnappers took a young woman from her home. As of the following day, no ransom demands had been made.

Locals have also complained about the lack of response from security forces and government officials to these persistent kidnappings, with some claiming that the authorities have been slow to act on the growing threat.

Meanwhile, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State also condemned the killings and urged for the perpetrators to be prosecuted.

He called for calm and for the people to avoid reprisals, noting that such actions would only hurt innocent individuals.

Leaders from both Edo and Kano states have promised to work closely to ensure that justice is served and that the families of the victims receive the support they need.

Additionally, protests calling for justice have erupted in Kano, where youths and women carried placards demanding that those responsible for the deaths be held accountable. The protestors voiced their frustration over the lack of action and called for swift legal proceedings to ensure justice for the victims.