National
Fear, Panic In Uromi As Residents Flee
By Benjamin Abioye
Several communities around Old Ilushi Road, Opere, and Good Will Junction in Uromi, Edo State, have become empty as residents flee in fear of arrests and revenge attacks. This follows the lynching of 16 travelers by a mob last Thursday.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, who visited Kano State on Monday, strongly condemned the killings in Uromi and promised justice for the victims. He stated that 14 suspects had been arrested and would be transferred to Abuja for further investigation. During his trip, he also met with Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has asked for an independent judicial panel to investigate the incident thoroughly.
Many Uromi residents have stopped going to their farms and are seeking safety in nearby towns. There is fear of random arrests and possible revenge attacks, especially among the youth, many of whom have fled.
A local resident named Monday described the events that led to the mob attack. “The vigilante group got a tip-off from communities along Old Ilushi Road that the travelers had weapons in their vehicle. When they arrived in Uromi, the vigilantes asked them to step down, but they refused. One of them brought out a knife, and that triggered the alarm,” he explained.
“Though no one is justifying the killings, those involved in the mob action have now fled, while innocent people are being arrested. On Saturday, police arrested a man on a GLK motorcycle near Opere Secondary School during a wedding ceremony. He said he had no idea what happened the previous day,” he added.
He further explained that the area is now mostly empty, with only a few motorcycles moving around. “Around noon on Monday, more arrests were made. People are living in fear. This place has been terrorized by kidnappers, many believed to be herders and hunters from the north,” he said.
He also mentioned a recent kidnapping. “A young lady was taken right in front of her home on March 30. As of 2 p.m. today, her abductors have not made contact,” he said.
Many residents who spoke anonymously said they do not support mob justice but claimed the victims were suspected kidnappers, not hunters as reported.
Another resident, Mr. Akhere, said: “No one supports mob justice, but these men were not hunters. Real hunters go with dogs. Our vigilantes have been tracking these suspected kidnappers. That day, they boarded a truck near Ubiaja with guns and large amounts of cash. The mistake was not handing them over to the police. People here are frustrated; they’ve lost loved ones, they’ve suffered. The government has been slow to act.”
Peter, another local, said his cousin, who helps with security in the town, had to flee. “Even though he wasn’t involved, he knew he might be targeted. Others have also left, fearing retaliation. We heard that there was panic in Ekpoma earlier today,” he said.
In Ekpoma, panic spread at the local market on Monday due to rumors that Fulani herders were planning an attack. The false alarm caused people to run, and traders abandoned their stalls. However, security forces quickly stepped in to calm the situation.
For some, the recent violence is part of a bigger problem. Jenny Osajie, 30, shared how her brother was kidnapped and killed after the family failed to pay a ₦5 million ransom.
“They boldly called us to pick up his dead body, and we found it exactly where they said. I’m a Christian, so I’ve left it to God. But the anger is real. We’ve been crying to the government for years—why did they only act now? Is it because of who the victims were?” she asked.
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