Uromi Deserted over Fears of Reprisal Attack on Killed 16 Fulanis

Uromi community in Edo State has been deserted as residents have fled for their lives in fear of reprisals and arrests by security agents for the lynching of 16 travelers by an angry mob last Thursday.

The attack has been met with outrage and condemnation from the general public, with the majority of citizens demanding justice and an end to the killings.

The travelers were said to have been mistaken for kidnappers and mobbed by a crowd as they traveled through the town, eyewitnesses stated. The victims were said to be traveling to Kano for the Sallah celebrations.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has assured that justice will be done to the victims and that the perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law. He added that 14 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack and they will be taken to Abuja for interrogation.

The governor made the statement while on a visit to Kano State, where he commiserated with the state government and people over the incident. He also visited the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and assured him that the state government will assist the families of the victims.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has denounced the attack as a “perverse illustration of Nigeria’s shambolic state of security.” The group has called for an independent judicial panel to investigate the incident and the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

The attack has also created fears of reprisals, with the majority of residents in Uromi abandoning the village in fear of attack. The village is currently empty, with few people daring to venture out.

The Edo State government has stated that it would compensate the victims’ families and also take steps to ensure that such an incident does not occur again in the future. But others are calling for more action to address the issues that led to the violence.

The attack has highlighted the need for more security and protection of travelers, particularly where there have been violence and kidnapping reports. The attack has also heightened calls for the stopping of ethnic profiling and stigmatization, which many believe was a contributing factor to the violence.

Though the probe into the incident is still on, there are high hopes that justice will be served to the perpetrators and they will be made to account for their act. The country is shocked by the attack and a lot of outrage has met the attack, with demands for its cessation and for increased security for citizens across the board.