Police arrest suspects involved in killing 16 Northerners in Edo
Police has announced the arrest of 14 suspects involved in the mob killing of 16 Northerners in Edo State and circulating the incident on social media.
“So far, fourteen (14) suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, while a manhunt has been launched for other perpetrators involved in the mob action,” a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said on Friday.
One of the victims of the attack who managed to escape, said they were 27 in the vehicle traveling to Kano from Port Harcourt after a hunting expedition when a local vigilante group flagged them at Uromi in Delta state.
“They started beating us as we were coming down from the vehicle. They had not even searched the vehicle that time. They herded us to the side of the road, seached the vehicle and saw our locally fabricated guns used everywhere by hunters and our dogs. That was when they let the people on us without any investigation. Some of us managed to escape and others were killed. We were going home for the Sallah celebration,” he said.
The police expressed regret that the vigilantes did not allow for proper investigation before subjecting some of them to mob action, with tragic consequences.
“The IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), DIG Sadiq Abubakar, to take over the case and ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation.
“He assured the public that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate any form of unlawful killings or extrajudicial actions under any guise.
“The IGP further appeals for calm and urges members of the public to cooperate fully with the investigation. He emphasized that anyone found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law.”
