The families and colleagues of the 16 hunters lynched by a mob in Uromi, Edo State, have issued a stern warning: if the government fails to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, they will seek revenge.
The victims, who were travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kano for the Sallah celebration, were attacked and killed by local vigilantes who suspected them of being kidnappers a claim now widely discredited. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage.
Most of the deceased were from Toranke in Bunkure Local Government Area, Kano State. Their relatives and fellow hunters expressed anger, grief, and a strong demand for justice.
Community leader and hunter, Alhaji Musa Dogo, called on the government to ensure the killers face justice. “These men were our brothers, comrades in the fight against insecurity. If the government fails to act, we will take action ourselves,” he warned.
Another hunter, Bala Danburan, echoed Dogo's sentiments. “We know how to track. We can infiltrate Uromi if necessary. This is not a threat but a promise.”
The group is also demanding the trial be moved to Kano, referencing a similar case in which a suspect was handed over to Bayelsa for prosecution. “We want the same fairness,” Dogo said.
Alhaji Usman Bako, another hunter, condemned the killings and criticised the government’s neglect of hunters who risk their lives daily. “If justice is not served, we may pull out of joint security operations. We will not die in silence,” he warned.
Malam Sani Umar, who lost his younger brother Yahaya, said the deceased left behind a wife and four children. “He was a man of justice who was killed unjustly. His killers walk free — how do we sleep?” he asked.
Hafsat Ibrahim, mother of Nasiru, one of the slain hunters, tearfully described her loss. “Nasiru was the backbone of our family. He was a protector. Now we live in darkness. The killers must face Islamic justice, and the government must compensate us.”
While the governors of Kano and Edo have paid condolence visits, the families said visits alone are not enough. “We need arrests, prosecutions. Without action, this will only encourage more killings,” Umar added.
Tension Spreads to Sokoto
In Sokoto State, fear of reprisal protests over the lynching led to widespread closure of shops, especially in areas dominated by non-indigenes like the Igbo.
A trader named Chinedu said rumors of protest after Friday prayers prompted many to shut their businesses. “We had to take precaution. No one wants to be caught off guard.”
An Igbo tyre seller in Sahara area said the memory of past violence, such as the Deborah Samuel protest, led them to act early. “We were looted last time. We’re being proactive now.”
The police, however, have assured residents of their safety. Sokoto command spokesman, Ahmed Rufai, said officers had been deployed across the city to maintain order
