The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and several prominent figures, including former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have strongly denounced the lynching of 16 hunters in Uromi, Edo State. The victims were reportedly mistaken for kidnappers by local vigilantes.
NBA President Afam Osigwe, in a statement on Saturday, described the act as “the gruesome murder of the hunters shows the alarming rise of vigilante justice across Nigeria.”
He further stated, “It is deeply troubling that mobs continue to take the law into their hands, attacking and lynching suspected criminals, often without the intervention of law enforcement agencies.
“No individual, regardless of the crime they are alleged to have committed, should be subjected to mob violence.”
Reports indicate that the victims were hunters traveling from Rivers State to Kano State for Sallah when they were stopped by vigilante members and armed youths. They were allegedly dragged from their truck, brutally beaten, and set on fire after being falsely labeled as kidnappers.
The attack occurred on Thursday along a section of the Uromi/Obajana Expressway in the Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Following the incident, the Nigerian police announced on Friday that they had arrested 14 suspects linked to the lynching.
Calls for Investigation and Justice
The NBA emphasized that every accused individual deserves to be investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted through the legal system. “Allowing mob actions to persist undermines the very foundation of our criminal justice system and portrays Nigeria as a society where lawlessness prevails.”
Osigwe urged law enforcement agencies to take decisive action to prevent such crimes from recurring.
“Justice must be served, and perpetrators of mob violence must be held accountable to deter future occurrences,” the statement added.
The association called on the Edo State Government and security agencies to “conduct a thorough investigation into this heinous act and ensure that the culprits are brought to face the full wrath of the law.”
“Vigilante justice has no place in a society governed by the rule of law,” it concluded.
Similarly, the human rights-focused organization Global Rights has demanded a comprehensive investigation.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, on Saturday, the group described the killings as a grave violation of human rights and the rule of law.
“These individuals were tragically mistaken for kidnappers, and rather than following due process, vigilantes unlawfully took the law into their own hands, resulting in the extrajudicial killing of innocent people,” Baiyewu said.
She also referenced the Nigerian Constitution, stating, “The Nigerian constitution guarantees the right to life under Section 33(1), which states that ‘every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of a court sentence.'”
She warned that “the unlawful targeting of individuals based on suspicion, ethnicity, or way of life is a dangerous trend that violates constitutional rights and fuels insecurity.”
Acknowledging citizens’ frustrations over the government’s inability to tackle banditry and kidnapping, she stressed that vigilante justice is not the solution.
Political Leaders React
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also condemned the killings, labeling them a threat to national security.
“Such killings have become a recurring tragedy in our decaying society. Acts of violence like these are abhorrent and had no place in our society yesterday, just as they should have no place in any decent society today.
“Every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic or regional background, has the right to move freely and safely within our nation,” Obi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Similarly, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, demanded justice through a Facebook post on Friday.
“This unfortunate incident demands a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done to restore public confidence in our security institutions,” he stated.
Rising Cases of Jungle Justice
Mob justice remains a pervasive issue in Nigeria, often fueled by distrust in law enforcement, ethnic and religious tensions, and a lack of swift legal interventions.
Amnesty International, along with other prominent figures, including former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, has also condemned the attack. President Bola Tinubu has ordered security operatives to launch an immediate investigation into the incident.
This tragedy is not an isolated case. Over the years, extrajudicial killings have led to numerous deaths, with victims often targeted based on suspicion or false accusations.
The latest incident in Uromi, where a vigilante group intercepted a truck carrying 25 travelers and falsely accused them of being kidnappers, underscores the dangers of unchecked mob violence.
According to Amnesty International, between 2012 and 2023, at least 555 cases of mob violence led to 57 recorded deaths, with victims burned or buried alive. The failure to hold perpetrators accountable has emboldened further acts of jungle justice.
