Mob Kills 16 Travelers In Edo Over False Kidnapping Allegation

Sixteen travelers were brutally killed in the Udune Efandion community of Uromi, Edo State, on Thursday after being wrongly accused of kidnapping.

The victims, mostly hunters of Hausa origin, were traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebration when they were stopped around 1:30 p.m. by members of the Edo State Security Corps and local vigilantes. The presence of their Dane guns, traditionally used for hunting in Northern Nigeria, was misinterpreted as a security threat. Instead of alerting law enforcement, the vigilantes sounded an alarm that incited panic and violence.

A mob, acting on the false accusation, launched a deadly attack, killing 16 travelers on the spot. Their vehicle was set on fire, with some of the bodies trapped inside. Others were reportedly dragged out and thrown into the flames.

Security operatives responded to a distress call but arrived too late to prevent the killings. However, four survivors were rescued and taken to His Grace Hospital in Uromi for medical care.

Authorities have confirmed the arrest of five suspects linked to the attack, as investigations continue.