- Safiu Kehinde
Amnesty International has condemned the killing of 16 suspected kidnappers who were burnt to death by mobs at Uromi community, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo state.
NPO Reported that the incident which occurred yesterday saw the victims, claimed to be Hausa hunters travelling to Kano for Eid celebration, stopped by members of Edo State Security Corps and local vigilante.
They security operatives would raise alarm after discovering Dane guns in the travellers vehicle.
This led to the mob action with gory videos showing how the victims were lynched and burnt shared on X on Friday.
Reacting in a post on its X handle, Amnesty condemned the killing while call for immediate and transparent investigation.
The human rights group faulted the absence of police officials to avert the ugly incident while raising concern over the rising trend of vigilante groups carrying out unlawful activities in Nigeria.
The statement read; “Amnesty International calls for an immediate and transparent investigation of lynching of at least 16 travelers whose vehicle was blocked and all of them dragged one by one: beaten and then set ablaze by the vigilante and armed youth yesterday at Uromi.
“Those killed were hunters travelling from Rivers state to Kano to celebrate Eid with their families.
“They were tied to used tyre doused with petrol and then set on fire. The viral videos of the gory incident show the victims pleading with their attackers while crowds cheered on.
“While the villagers torture and then killed the travelers there was no police intervention. The horrific mob violence that happened at Uromi is part of the rising trend of vigilante groups of towns and villages along highways blocking roads and carrying out unlawful activities.”