A mob in Nigeria’s southern town of Uromi, Edo state, killed and set ablaze at least seven individuals on suspicion of kidnapping, Governor Monday Okpebholo confirmed on Friday.
The governor condemned the “barbaric” act, vowing that those responsible for the killings would face the full force of the law.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the victims, identified as northern Hausa hunters, were intercepted by local security while traveling in a commercial truck. Upon searching the vehicle, security forces found firearms, which led to a mob attack, with residents accusing the men of being kidnappers and Fulani herders.
“The commissioner of police has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident,” Okpebholo stated, adding that at least four individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack.
The rampant issue of kidnapping for ransom, alongside violence linked to Fulani herders, continues to fuel insecurity and deepen inter-ethnic tensions across Nigeria. In recent years, deadly clashes have erupted between the semi-nomadic Fulani and settled farming communities, leaving hundreds dead and increasing displacement across the country.
