Edo Governor orders full investigation into Uromi killings
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the killing of seven persons in Uromi, describing the act as barbaric and unacceptable.
Speaking through the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Government House, SP Solomon Osaghale, the Governor vowed that the perpetrators would face justice.
SP Osaghale, who visited Uromi on the Governor’s directive, revealed that the victims were in a commercial truck stopped by local security operatives. A search reportedly uncovered firearms, leading to a mob attack by bystanders. He condemned the killings, emphasizing that no one has the right to take the law into their own hands.
The Governor has directed the Commissioner of Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation, and over four suspects have already been arrested. Osaghale reassured residents that the state government would ensure justice and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Security personnel have been deployed to restore peace, and residents, especially the Hausa community, have been urged to go about their daily activities without fear. The CSO emphasized that the government is committed to maintaining law and order across the state.
The leader of the Hausa community in Uromi, Mallam Aliyu Haruna, expressed gratitude to the Governor for his swift intervention. He noted that the presence of security forces had reassured his people, who had been living in fear since the incident.
Haruna described the attack as unprecedented, stating that the Hausa community had coexisted peacefully with Uromi residents for over seventy years. He emphasized that such violence was unexpected, given the history of mutual respect between both communities.
Governor Okpebholo reaffirmed his commitment to protecting all residents of Edo State, stressing that acts of jungle justice would not be tolerated. He called on community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
