16 Northern Travelers Set Ablaze in Edo Over Kidnapping Allegations

A tragic incident unfolded in the Udune Efandion community of Uromi, Edo State, as 16 travelers from Northern Nigeria were brutally lynched and set ablaze by a mob over false allegations of kidnapping.

The attack occurred on Thursday when misinformation led to mob violence against the victims, who were mostly Hausa hunters traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebrations.

According to reports, members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes stopped the travelers around 1:30 p.m. Upon discovering their hunting rifles—commonly used in Northern Nigeria—the vigilantes mistakenly labeled them as criminals and raised an alarm instead of contacting the police.

The situation escalated as local youths, incited by the false accusations, launched a violent attack. Sixteen of the travelers were killed on the spot, some burned inside their vehicle, while others were dragged out, placed in wheelbarrows, and thrown into the fire.

Security forces responded to a distress call but arrived too late to prevent the killings. However, four survivors were rescued and taken to His Grace Hospital in Uromi for treatment.

Authorities have arrested five suspects in connection with the attack, while the Hausa community in Uromi has convened an emergency peace meeting to prevent retaliatory violence.

The police have assured the public that those responsible will face justice, emphasizing that “the law must take its course.” However, concerns remain over the recurring cases of jungle justice across Nigeria, where mobs take the law into their own hands instead of allowing authorities to handle criminal allegations through due process.