Tension is rising across northern Nigeria after the lynching of 16 hunters from Kano State in Uromi, Edo State, as families and colleagues of the victims threaten revenge if justice is not swiftly served.
The victims members of a local vigilante group were en route from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebration when they were stopped and killed by vigilantes who allegedly mistook them for kidnappers. The brutal mob action, which occurred at Goodwill Junction, Old Ilushi Road, has since triggered national outrage.
Most of the slain hunters hailed from Toranke, Bunkure LGA of Kano. Their families and fellow hunters say the government must arrest and prosecute the culprits or risk violent reprisals.
“We are trained hunters. If the government refuses to act, we know how to find those behind this massacre,” said Alhaji Musa Dogo, a community leader. Another hunter, Bala Danburan, added, “This is not a threat; it is a promise.”
The hunters are also demanding that the case be transferred to a Kano court for transparency and closer monitoring, citing past cases where jurisdiction was relocated for fairness.
Relatives of the deceased shared their grief. Hafsat Ibrahim, mother of slain hunter Nasiru, said, “He was our backbone. If justice is not served, our pain will never heal.” Yahaya Umar, another victim, left behind a wife and four children. His brother, Sani Umar, lamented, “We can’t sleep knowing the killers are still free.”
In Bunkure, Alhaji Usman Bako criticised the government’s neglect of hunters who risk their lives fighting insecurity. “We may pull out from joint security efforts if this injustice continues,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked tension in Sokoto, where fears of reprisal protests led to the closure of businesses, especially in Igbo-dominated areas. Shop owners said memories of past violence prompted their decision to shut down.
Back in Uromi, the lynching site remains deserted. Residents, fearing arrest or revenge, have fled. A local man, John, told our reporter, “People here are afraid. But they also live in fear of killer herders in the forests.”
The case has now been transferred to Abuja for further investigation, and arrests have reportedly been made.
Edo State Governor’s spokesperson, Fred Itua, said Governor Monday Okpehbolo is committed to resolving inherited security issues and that compensation for victims’ families is being finalised.
As the country watches closely, families of the slain hunters say only swift justice can prevent further bloodshed.
