President Bola Tinubu has condemned the murder of travelling hunters intercepted by local vigilantes in the Uromi community of Esan North Local Government of Edo State.
The President, who expressed shock at the dastardly act on Thursday, directed Police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy).
Tinubu commiserated with the families of the affected victims and assured them that criminals would not be allowed to shed the blood of innocent Nigerians in vain.
The President noted that jungle justice has no place in Nigeria, and all Nigerians have the freedom to move freely in any part of the country.
Tinubu commended the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and community leaders in Uromi for their swift response to avert the escalation of tension.
Meanwhile, Governor Okpebholo, has received a sad report of an incident in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the State on Thursday, March 27. 2025, leading to unwarranted murder and arson.
The State Government strongly condemns the barbaric act allegedly committed by members of a local vigilante.
According to a statement signed by Fred Itua the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, initial report indicate that the victims were travelling through the town from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when they were intercepted on suspicion of being criminals by the local vigilante members.
Governor Okpebholo who visited the town on Friday to access the situation, expressed dismay over the heinous killings.
He condemned the action of the vigilante members in the strongest terms and promised justice for the victims.
The Governor said there is no excuse for the vigilante members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies.
The Governor directed the State Police Command and other security agencies to conduct thorough and speedy investigations into the matter and bring those found culpable to book.
He also charged the community to work with the security agencies to fish out the culprits.
Okpebholo also commended community leaders, especially the leadership of Arewa community in the area, for descalating tensions and handling the situation with restrain.