Residents abandon Uromi towns & communities over fears of revenge attacks & arrest as Adams Oshiomole & others remain dumb
Communities around Old Ilushi Road, Opere, and Good Will Junction in Uromi, Edo State, have been deserted by residents for fear of possible reprisal attacks and arrests by security agents, following the lynching of 16 travellers by a mob in the area last Thursday.
This development came as Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Monday in Kano State, gave assurances that justice will prevail for those killed in the mob attack.
He also visited the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), where he disclosed that the 14 suspects so far taken into custody in connection with the killings, would soon be moved to Abuja for further interrogation.
This comes as the Arewa Consultative Forum, AFC, called for an independent judicial panel to investigate the killings.
This medium gathered that residents of Uromi and environs have also halted going to their farms, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring towns.
Some residents who shared their pains described the circumstances that led to the mob action.
A resident who identified as Aluede, stated that: “The vigilante group actually had information, intelligence report from areas on the stretch of Old Ilushi road, from where the travellers were coming, that they had weapons in their vehicle.
‘’When they got to Uromi, the vigilantes demanded that they step down, but the travellers refused, leading to an altercation. One of them pulled out a knife, prompting the vigilantes to raise alarm, accusing them of being kidnappers.
“Nobody has actually given justification for the action. However, those who took part in the mob action have fled, while innocent individuals have been arrested.
‘’On Saturday, the police arrested a young man riding a GLK motorcycle near Opere Secondary School, where a wedding ceremony was taking place. The man claimed he was unaware of the previous day’s events.
“The area remains deserted, with few motorbikes passing through. However, at around 12 noon on Monday (yesterday), police returned to arrest more people. The community has been plagued by incessant kidnappings, carried out by hunters and herders from the northern part of the country.
‘’In the latest incident, a young lady was kidnapped in front of her gate on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Her captors had yet to call for ransom as of 2 pm today (yesterday).’’
It was learnt that some residents, especially youths, have been quietly leaving the town for fear of reprisal and arrests by security agents.
Most of the residents who spoke to this medium insisted that they were not giving justification for the killings but that the people killed were suspected kidnappers and not hunters as presented to the public.
They explained that the victims were sighted near Ubiaja, headquarters of Esan South-East, which is close to Uromi.
Ubiaja is also suffering the same menace of kidnapping and it is where the victims were said to have entered a truck with their arms and cash.
Another resident, who identified himself simply as Mr Akhere, said : “In as much as we are not justifying the killings, because two wrongs don’t make a right, these people are not hunters as claimed because the hunters we have seen also go with dogs.
“Our local vigilantes have been on the trail of these suspected kidnappers. It has been tough for everybody, so on the fateful day, these people were sighted near Ubiaja where they flagged down a truck coming from the east and they entered with their guns and luggage believed to include huge sums of money.
“I think where the vigilantes in Uromi that stopped them missed it was not handing them over to the police, instead of resorting to self-help and you know many of the people who were around have been victims of kidnappings directly and indirectly in the area.
‘’Yes, we condemn the illegal actions but government has also been slow in taking action against these kidnappers. They have been killing, maiming our people and raping our women in the farms.”
