The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum has appealed to the hausa community not to retaliate the killing of some northern travelers in Uromi, Edo State.
In a statement issued by the AYCF President General, Shetima Yerima, in Kaduna on Friday, the forum urged them to remain calm and peaceful, resisting the temptation for retaliation and instead seeking justice through lawful means.
The statement condemned the brutal killing of the Northern travellers, describing the incident as a “horrifying display of mob injustice” fueled by false accusations and ignorance.
It demanded immediate and thorough investigations into the tragedy, calling for swift and decisive action against those responsible.
The statement reads, “We stand united in our outrage and condemnation of the horrific events that transpired on Thursday in the Udune Efandion community of Uromi, Edo State, where 16 innocent travellers from Northern Nigeria tragically lost their lives due to a horrifying display of mob injustice.
“We demand that the authorities take swift and decisive action against those responsible for inciting and participating in this heinous crime. It is imperative that justice is served not only for the victims and their grieving families but also to restore faith in our justice system, which must not be overshadowed by the lawlessness of a mob.
“We recognise the pain and anger that this incident has caused within the Hausa community in Uromi and beyond. However, we urge our brothers and sisters to remain calm and peaceful while also being vigilant. It is essential to resist the temptation for retaliation and instead seek justice through lawful means.”
According to Shettima, the forum stands ready to support the community in advocating for their rights and ensuring that such an atrocity is never repeated.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and call upon the relevant authorities to act swiftly in bringing the perpetrators of this mob injustice to justice. We must work together to build a society where dialogue and understanding prevail over violence and ignorance.
“The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of mob violence and the need for justice and accountability.
“The AYCF is, however, calling for calm and urging the authorities to take swift action to address the situation,” the statement added.
Similarly, Amnesty International has called for an immediate and transparent investigation of the incident.
This was contained in a statement issued by the body.
The statement reads; ”Amnesty International calls for an immediate and transparent investigation of lynching of at least 16 travelers whose vehicle was blocked and all of them dragged one by one: beaten and then set ablaze by the vigilante and armed youth yesterday at Uromi Edo state. Those killed were hunters travelling from Rivers state to Kano to celebrate Eid with their families. They were tied to used tyres doused with petrol and then set on fire. The viral videos of the gory incident show the victims pleading with their attacks while crowds cheered the vigilante that attacked the travellers using axe, iron rod and machete.
”The Nigerian authorities must go beyond merely condemning the incident and ensure that the suspected attackers are apprehended and brought to justice in fair trial. The consistent failure of the Nigerian government to punish mob violence has created an environment in which violent mobs believe themselves entitled to take the law into their own hands.
”The horrific mob violence that happened at Uromi is part of the rising trend of vigilante groups of towns and villages along highways blocking roads and carrying out unlawful activities with impunity. The fact that these killings have been happening for a long time, with few cases investigated and prosecuted, highlights the authorities’ shocking failure to uphold and fulfil their obligation to protect people from harm and violence.
”Amnesty International strongly condemns this incident. The Nigerian government must take appropriate and effective measures to prevent cases of mob violence across the country and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims. The police must be adequately equipped to respond to mob violence”.
