In a volatile jungle justice, 16 Northerners have been lynched by the indigenes of the Udune Efandion community in Uromi, Edo State.
The incident, which happened on Thursday, involved some aggrieved youths throwing caution to the winds and self-administering justice after apprehending some northern travelers traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano over alleged involvement in kidnapping.
Several reliable sources who preferred to remain anonymous stated that the victims were Hausa hunters traveling to Kano for the Sallah festivals and were intercepted in Edo State around 1:30 p.m. by members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes.
The sources claimed they had mislabeled their hunting guns as weapons and had set their truck ablaze with the victims trapped inside, without further investigation to prove the certainty of their allegation.
Those who managed to escape were thrown back into the fire by the irate mob lynching the 16 Northerners in a fit of fury.
โThe sight of their hunting guns. Dane guns commonly used in the North was misinterpreted as a threat. Instead of contacting the police, or other security agencies, local vigilantes raised a false alarm, which ignited a wave of chaos and violence.
โThe reaction was swift and brutal. Local youths, incited by the unfounded accusations, viciously attacked the travelers, resulting in the tragic loss of 16 lives on the spot. In a grotesque act of barbarism, the mob set the truck ablaze, leaving some bodies trapped inside the vehicle. While some people were taken out on wheelbarrow and thrown inside fire. This gruesome scene only point to the sickening reality of mob justice that has taken root in certain communities.
“Responsive action from security operatives came too late for the victims. By the time they arrived on the scene following a distress call, the damage had been done.
โFour survivors were rescued and rushed to His Grace Hospital in Uromi for urgent medical treatmentโ, sources said.
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