Governor Okpebholo Orders Investigation Into Killing of 7 Suspected Kidnappers in Edo

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has condemned the killing of seven suspected kidnappers by a mob in Uromi, Esan North-East local government area, describing the act as barbaric and unacceptable.

In a statement delivered by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor, SP Solomon Osaghale, the Governor vowed that those responsible for the killings would be brought to justice and face the full consequences of their actions.

The incident occurred when the suspects, who were traveling in a commercial truck, were stopped by members of a local security group. Upon searching the vehicle, firearms were discovered, which led to an attack by a mob in the vicinity.

SP Osaghale, who was sent to Uromi on the Governor’s behalf to assess the situation and ensure a thorough investigation, condemned the violent act, emphasizing that no one has the right to take another person’s life. He reassured the public that the authorities were taking swift action to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Over four individuals have already been arrested in connection with this incident,” Osaghale confirmed, adding that the Governor had instructed the Commissioner of Police to conduct a full-scale investigation.

He called for calm and assured law-abiding residents, particularly the Hausa community in Uromi, that the police and other security agencies had been deployed to restore peace and order in the area.

Mallam Aliyu Haruna, leader of the Hausa community in Uromi, expressed gratitude to the Governor for his swift response and the deployment of security personnel to ensure the safety of the community. Haruna noted that this was the first time such an incident had occurred in Uromi, a town where the Hausa community has peacefully coexisted with the indigenous people for over seventy years.

The Governor’s swift action has been praised for restoring peace and providing reassurance to the residents of Uromi, who had been shaken by the tragic events.