Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has vowed to go after perpetrators of the mob attack that resulted in the killing of 16 travellers at a village in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the State.
The governor also condemned the sad incident, described it as unacceptable and assured the victims’ families that he would get justice for them.
Okpebholo made remark on Friday while assessing the scene of the incident, according to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Fred Itua.
NIGER DELTA TODAY reports that members of local vigilante group at a village in Uromi reportedly apprehended and murdered 16 travellers on Thursday who were travelling from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Kano for the Sallah celebrations.
It was gathered that the local security personnel had mistaken the travellers to be kidnappers after discovering cache of dane guns in the vehicle that was conveying the northerners to their destination.
But Itua in a statement said, “The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has received a sad report of an incident in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the State on Thursday, March 27, 2025, leading to unwarranted murder and arson. The State Government strongly condemns the barbaric act allegedly committed by members of a local vigilante.
“Initial reports report indicates that the victims were travelling through the town from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when they were intercepted on suspicion of being criminals by the local vigilante members.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo who visited the town on Friday to access the situation, expressed dismay over the heinous killings. He condemned the action of the vigilante members in the strongest terms and promised justice for the victims.
“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 Arewa community in the area, for deescalating tensions and handling the situation with restrain.”
