Uromi Lynching: A National Shame That Demands Justice

The brutal lynching of 16 northern travelers in Uromi, Edo State,  represents a dangerous descent into barbarism that threatens the very fabric of our national unity. What began as a routine journey home for Sallah celebrations ended in a horrific display of mob violence that shames us all as Nigerians.

These were not criminals caught in the act, but hunters carrying licensed Dane guns – working men traveling across a country they had every right to traverse freely.

The details are as disturbing as they are heartbreaking. Vigilantes stopped a truck carrying 25 travelers from Rivers State, found legally owned hunting equipment, and instead of allowing due process, incited a mob that tied human beings to tires, doused them in petrol, and burned them alive.

Survivor accounts paint a picture of an orderly that descended rapidly into chaos, with vigilantes standing aside as locals delivered fatal “justice” based on nothing more than harmful stereotypes and suspicion.

This incident epitomises the dangerous consequence of entrenched stereotyping in our national discourse. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) rightly rejected the “misleading narratives” that this was merely a case of mistaken identity.

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The irony is particularly stark given the location – near “Angle 90,” an area known for its Hausa laborers and artisans who contribute meaningfully to the local economy.

That such violence could unfold without intervention from community leaders raises profound questions about the erosion of our collective humanity.

President Bola Tinubu’s condemnation and directive for swift investigations are appropriate first steps, but the response must go beyond routine expressions of outrage. The Inspector General of Police( IGP) Kayode Egbetokun’s decision to elevate the investigation to the highest level of police authority signals the gravity of this situation, but justice must be both swift and transparent. The 14 suspects already arrested represent only the beginning of accountability.

This atrocity reminds us of similarly shameful incidents in our national memory – the Aluu Four lynching of university students in 2012 and the killing of 22 travelers in Plateau State in 2021. Each instance represents a collective national failure to protect the sanctity of human life and uphold the rule of law.

The danger of reprisal killings looms large. We commend the Kano State government and security agencies for restraining potential reprisals, as acknowledged by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI). The remarkable restraint shown by northern communities must be matched by decisive justice for the perpetrators.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s prompt response deserves recognition – disbanding unregistered vigilante operations, suspending officials overseeing non-state security operators, and reaching out to the Kano State Government. His personal visit to Kano to commiserate  with the families demonstrates appropriate leadership. When he stated

that 14 suspects would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation, he signaled the seriousness with which this case is  being treated.

Kano Governor Abba Yusuf’s observation that his state remains “the most peaceful state in northern Nigeria, accommodating people from diverse communities” stands as a powerful example of the peaceful coexistence that should characterise our nation. His appointment of special advisers on community relations reflects the kind of proactive governance needed to prevent such tragedies.

The calls from both the JNI and ACF for blood money and compensation  to the victims’ families must be heeded. Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s condemnation of these killings, with their national publicity secretary Dr. Ezechukwu Ezechi calling for the prosecution of the perpetrators, demonstrates that all right-thinking Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, stand united against such barbarism.

Beyond punishing the guilty, this tragedy demands deeper reflection on our national character. Why do vigilance groups operate with such impunity? How have we normalised the dehumanization of fellow citizens based on ethnic identity?

In the considered opinion of this newspaper, the families of the victims deserve more than condolences; they deserve justice, compensation, and the assurance that their loved ones’ deaths will catalyze meaningful change. Local vigilance groups must be properly  regulated, trained in human rights principles, and held accountable for their actions.

For ordinary Nigerians, this moment demands soul-searching about our collective complicity in nurturing the tribal stereotypes that made this atrocity possible. When we share unverified allegations on social media, when we attribute criminal tendencies to entire ethnic groups, when we stay silent in the face of prejudice, we contribute to an atmosphere where such violence becomes thinkable.

The right to freedom of movement is enshrined in our constitution. No Nigerian should fear death for traveling through any part of their own

country. As we await the outcomes of investigations and trials, let this tragedy serve as a reminder that jungle justice has no place in a civilized society. The rule of law, due process, and the presumption of innocence are not optional luxuries but essential foundations of any functioning democracy.

The victims of Uromi deserve justice. Nigeria deserves better than mob rule. The killers must be prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law.