…Gov. Okpebholo vows justice for victims
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the murder of travelling hunters intercepted by members of a local vigilance group in Uromi community of Esan North local government area of Edo state.
The president, who expressed shock at the dastardly act on Thursday, directed the police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits.
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, his spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Friday.
The president noted that jungle justice had no place in the country, and that all Nigerians had the freedom to move freely in any part of the country.
He commended Governor Monday Okpebholo and community leaders in Uromi for their swift response to avert escalation of tension.
Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo has vowed justice for the reported unwarranted murder and arson of some travellers in Uromi, Esan North East local government area.
Okpebholo condemned the barbaric act allegedly committed by members of a local vigilance group.
Initial reports indicated 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 vigilantes.
The governor, who visited the town on Friday to assess the situation, expressed dismay over the heinous killings.
“There’s no excuse for the vigilance group members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies,” he said.
He 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.
Governor Okpebholo commended community leaders, especially the leadership of Arewa community in the area, for de-escalating tensions and handling the situation with restraint.