Governor orders investigation over killing of seven kidnappers
Governor orders investigation over killing of seven kidnappers
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has strongly condemned the mob killing of seven suspected kidnappers by residents of a community in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area.
The Governor, through his representative, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Government House, SP Solomon Osaghale, described the act as barbaric and pledged to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, SP Osaghale expressed outrage over the incident, emphasizing that such lawlessness has no place in the state.
“This act is utterly condemnable,” he stated, stressing that Edo State will not tolerate such vigilante actions. “The perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law,” he assured.
Osaghale, who was in Uromi to assess the damage and facilitate investigations, provided details of the tragic event.
He explained that the mob attack followed the discovery of firearms in a commercial truck, where the suspected kidnappers were stopped by local security.
After the weapons were found, a mob descended on the victims, leading to their brutal killing.
While condemning the killings, Osaghale reminded the public that no one has the right to take another person’s life. He said the nature of the attack had deeply concerned Governor Okpebholo, who has directed the Commissioner of Police to launch a full investigation.
“I assure you that the individuals involved in this unprovoked violence will not go unpunished. As of now, over four arrests have been made,” he confirmed.
In his message, the CSO urged the public to remain calm and reassured law-abiding citizens, particularly the Hausa community in Uromi, that they could go about their daily activities without fear.
He confirmed that security personnel, including officers from the Nigerian Police Force, had been deployed to restore peace and order to the area.
In a show of gratitude, Mallam Aliyu Haruna, the leader of the Hausa Community in Uromi, thanked Governor Okpebholo for his prompt response.
“The swift deployment of security personnel has brought a sense of calm and reassurance to our community,” Haruna said, noting the heightened fear that had gripped the Hausa people following the unprecedented incident.
Governor Okpebholo’s immediate actions have been widely praised for addressing the unrest and demonstrating the state’s commitment to ensuring justice and public safety.
“I must tell you that this is the first time a thing like this is happening in Uromi and it baffles me because, Uromi people have been so accommodating to us in the Hausa Community.
“Over the years, we have lived peacefully among the indigenes. Our sojourn in this land has spanned over seventy years. I was given birth to here, and so are many other people you are seeing here today,” Haruna said.
