Many residents of Uromi are still skeptical about what would befall them, as life gradually returns to the town, a week after 16 northern travellers, mistaken for kidnappers, were killed by a mob, even as they accused the police of indiscriminate arrest and extortion.
This was evident yesterday, which was the market day in the town, and the ever busy Mission Road where the biggest market in town is located was devoid of the heavy vehicular and human traffic associated with it.
Many young people have also continued to express their frustrations with what the police are doing, alleging that people were being picked at random and made to cough out huge sums of money or threatened to be taken to Abuja as an active participant in the killings.
This came on a day the Concerned Northern Forum, CNF, warned of potential reprisals across northern states and Abuja, asking northerners living in the south to return home for their safety.
It was gathered that the police were collecting no less than N300,000 from those who fall into their trap and there was the story of a young man who had just come in from overseas and was allegedly picked up by the police.
He was said to have transferred N1 million through a POS before he was left to go, as he was threatened to be moved to Abuja.
A young man told this reporter in pidgin English in a restaurant: “Make dem do come dey go because no be wetin den send dem, naim dem dey do now (They should leave us now because what they are now doing is not what they were sent to do)”
Another resident, Prince Eugene Olumese, said “This development is affecting everybody here. Now, police are arresting people, and young boys no longer gather in a place, once they are up to three because of fear that police will just come and arrest anybody.
‘’So as we speak, both the innocent and guilty are being arrested by the police. We are now at the mercy of the police because the local vigilante that has been helping has been suspended, yet criminal Fulani herdsmen are still in our forests.”
However, the police authorities have advised those affected to show evidence, so necessary action could be taken.
They also promised to do their discreet investigation on the allegation to ascertain if the allegation was true or not.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Edo State police command, Moses Yamu, when contacted, said: “It is not just enough to allege that police are extorting, they must have done it to one or two people. These people should let us know or show proof, then we can investigate.
‘’I may not be able to tell you that it is not true but I cannot also say it is a fact since there is no evidence. What I promise we will do, I will make some enquiries and also keep an eye on the ground there.”
On allegation of someone paying one million naira to avoid being arrested and taken to Abuja, Yamu said: “That one is on social media and I have chatted with the person who posted it to provide me with details, but till now as we speak, he has not.”
There is, however, a reduction in the number of security personnel on the roads, unlike Tuesday.
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