• Recounts Ordeal with Kidnappers

• Safiu Kehinde

An indigenous group, Esan Descendants Assembly (EDA) Worldwide, has apologized over the killing of 16 Northern travellers at Uromi community in Edo state.

NPO Reported that the travellers who were claimed to be Hausa hunters, were lynched and burnt to death following the discovery of Dane guns in their vehicles last week Thursday.

The brutal killing of the 16 travellers had since sparked mixed reactions from members of public and fear of retaliation attacks.

Reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Prof. G.R.A. Okogun, and General Secretary, Saintmoses Eromosele, the indigenous group labelled the incident as an abomination and tragedy without excuse.

While apologizing to the families of the slain travellers, the group urged aggrieved parties not to indulge in reprisal attacks as it recounted ordeals of Uromi and other neighbouring community in the hands of kidnappers.

“There are moments in a people’s history when words fail, and silence becomes a greater betrayal than speech. This is one of such moments.

“For a great evil has swept through our land like a wild bushfire, leaving behind ash, anguish, and questions that trouble the soul. In the ancient town of Uromi, not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six — but several human beings, flesh, spirit, and bone — were cast into the flames by a mob seized by fury. Burnt alive.

“And we, the Esan Descendants Assembly (EDA) Worldwide, speaking for Esan sons and daughters and organizations at home and in every corner of the earth, raise our voices not in pride but in sorrow.

“This act, committed on a part of our soil, is an abomination. A tragedy without excuse. Though the hands may have been few and may even have been perpetrated by resident strangers among us, the pain rests on all of us, like the dust of the dry season that settles upon every roof—guilty or innocent. We mourn the death and pray God for forgiveness and to appease the the ever known peaceful and accommodating land and of the blood of the innocent.

“To the families of the slain, to the communities from which they came, to the states that raised them, and to the nation whose conscience has been wounded, we offer our deepest sorrow. We do not apologise from politeness, but from the pain of brotherhood. No man deserves to be judged by fire. No mother should receive her child in ashes.

“But in mourning, we plead not to be driven to desperation and despair. We must let the nation know that the people of Uromi now live under siege with daily incidents of kidnapping, uncertainties and hopelessness having non to trust, but we must not resort to self help and acts of barbarism.

“For many planting seasons now, especially in the past couple of years, Uromi and her sister towns have groaned under the weight of evil: kidnappers striking by night and day, rapists and raiders invading homes and farmlands, killers walking boldly through markets and farmlands.

“And as our people cried, the silence of those meant to protect us sounds louder than the thunder of approaching war. We had hoped on the commissioning of the Esan Mobile Police squadron barracks for months unending.

“We mourn the dead born out of desperation even as we grieve in our pain of insecurity and daily torture. We are a people abandoned by those sworn to protect us, we must be resolute and not lose our way. Truly justice has been distant but revenge is not an option. The madness that descended upon Uromi may not be a mystery, it is the child of long neglect.

“May such distardy act not rise again. Let God cleanse our land and repose the souls our innocent brethren. We mourn.” The statement read.

While maintaining thatof Esanland is not a jungle which should breed such barbaric act, the group listed prominent descendants from theand land.

It called on the intervention of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, and other security operatives to curtail further breakdown of law and order.

“But we must not feed this madness. No matter how deep our wounds, the way of honour must not be forsaken. Esanland is not a jungle. We are a people of honour.

“A land that bred kings like Agba nojie of Agbazilo and Uda nojie of Okpebho whose words were once law, of scholars like Emeritus Professors Richard Abhuluimen Anao and Emeritus Prof. Friday Okonofua and the legendary late Professor Ambrose Forunlosho Alli, whose thoughts illuminated and still illuminating many minds across the world, of warriors like General Isidahome who founded Dahomey, Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro who moved motion for Nigeria independence, Chief Tony Ahakon Anennih and Admiral Augustus Aikhomu who fought for Nigeria’s unity and progress with dignity, not savagery; of medicine men like Ezomo, Ugboha n’Igun and Ukpota whose hands brought healing to the Benin Empire, not destruction to life and livelihood, of religious leaders like Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Alh Musa Ikhilor and Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie who lead, in significant capacities, some of the biggest religious bodies in the world. Never again must we resort to self-help and barbaric acts.

“Therefore, we call upon our beloved Governor and brother, His Excellency Governor Monday Okpebholo; our sister, the Commissioner of Police; our friends at the Department of State Services; the Commander of the 4th Mechanized Brigade ofr the Nigerian Army; and all stakeholders in security management, to rouse themselves at these trying times.

“Let them rise not only in anger after the deed is done, but with courage before it is done. Let them defend the living with the same zeal with which they now count the dead.

“Enough blood has been spilled. Enough tears have fallen. Let there be no more widows weeping by night, no more fathers burying sons, no more children growing up afraid of roads, forests, and market paths.

“The land cries for justice, not the justice of mobs, but of law. And we, the Esan people, must lead by example. Let us return to the path of wisdom. Let us say no to mob justice and never again take the law into our own hands. Let us put out the fire before it consumes us all.” The statement continued.