Sixteen travellers were brutally killed in Edo State after a mob, mistakenly believing they were kidnappers, set them ablaze.
The victims, mostly Hausa hunters, were travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration when their vehicle was stopped around midnight on Friday by members of the Edo State Security Network and local vigilantes.
Upon sighting the travellers’ locally made hunting rifles, which are commonly used in northern Nigeria, the vigilantes misinterpreted them as a threat.
A widely circulated video showed the victims being surrounded by youths, doused in petrol, and set on fire.
Dayyabu Yahya, one of the 10 survivors rescued by the police, recounted the attack, saying, “They flogged [the driver]… and ordered the passengers to get out of the vehicle, during which they beat us up before grouping us together. Realising that we would likely be killed, some of us made a run for our lives.”
The killings have triggered widespread condemnation. Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, described the act as “barbaric” and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
President Bola Tinubu also denounced the killings, stressing that “jungle justice has no place in Nigeria,” and directed security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that the perpetrators face the full weight of the law.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also condemned the act, stating that the tragedy could have been avoided if the appropriate authorities had been involved in verifying the identities of the victims.
“The Nigeria Police, military, and other security agencies are well-trained to handle such matters,” Musa said, urging Nigerians not to take laws into their own hands but to always revert to constituted authorities in security matters.
Gen. Musa further called for the proper regulation of local hunters and vigilante groups, urging them to register with the police and other relevant agencies.
He assured Nigerians that security forces would collaborate to bring the perpetrators to book and prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have arrested 14 suspects in connection with the killings, as investigations continue. The
The deceased has since been laid to rest in line with Islamic burial rites.
- Nigerian Lawyer Gets Continental Spotlight for Research on Data Protection Enforcement - December 5, 2025
- Over ₦122bn Safe School Budget Fails to Stem Student Abductions - December 4, 2025
- Kogi Govt Condoles With Families Of Victims Of Tragic Accident - December 4, 2025