Minority caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned the recent killing of 16 hunters from northern Nigeria who were traveling to Kano state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred on Thursday in the Uromi area of Edo state, where a mob attacked the hunters after members of a local vigilance group raised suspicions that they were kidnappers.
The Edo state government has announced that 14 individuals suspected to be involved in the killings have been arrested and will be transferred to Abuja for further investigation.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo visited the families of the victims in Bankure Local Government Area of Kano state, where he assured them that justice would be pursued diligently.
A statement jointly signed by Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader; Ali Isa, the minority whip; and Aliyu Madaki, the deputy minority leader, and released on Monday, characterised the killings as “barbaric.
“We find such brutal killings of innocent Nigerians in any part of the country by lawless mobs very reprehensible, and if allowed to fester without being put in check by responsible organs of the federal government, such actions could threaten the peace and unity of the country,” the statement reads.
The lawmakers asked Nigerians never to resort to jungle attacks on fellow citizens but to always report any concerns to security agencies.
“We are a nation under the rule of laws, and our law enforcement agencies are always available to partner with every Nigerian to assuage their concerns,” the caucus said.
While noting that the incident is “already setting emotions on edge” in parts of the country, the legislators urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the security agencies investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Also, adequate compensation should be paid to the affected families,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers implored Nigerians to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding and allow the federal and state governments to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
