Police authorities in Edo have arrested 14 suspects over the killing of travellers in the state on Thursday.
The victims were brutally killed by a mob in the Uromi area of Edo State, suspected of being criminals. The travelers involved were reportedly hunters.
According to the Edo State Police Command, the victims numbered 16. Police spokesperson Moses Yamu confirmed that several individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack.
“During the investigation, fourteen (14) suspects were apprehended, and an emergency meeting with stakeholders and community members was held to address the situation,” Yamu stated in a press release on Friday.
Details of the Incident
The Edo Police Command described how the incident unfolded: a truck with registration number KKF 225 XA, traveling from Port Harcourt and carrying 25 passengers from Elele, a town in Rivers State, was stopped by members of a local vigilante group at Uromi. Some of the travelers were found to have homemade Dane guns and were arrested.
While the arrests were taking place, some vigilante members raised alarms, accusing the travelers of being kidnappers. This led to an attack by members of the community and passersby, resulting in the lynching of 16 individuals. The truck they were in was also set on fire.
Police officers from the Uromi Division quickly arrived at the scene, rescuing ten (10) travelers. Two of them were injured and have since been taken to the hospital, where they are recovering.
Yamu added that a unit of Police Mobile Force personnel and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area to prevent further unrest.
The police emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and warned against any retaliation.
