Federal Government of Nigeria and Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, have condemned the killing and burning of 16 suspected kidnappers by a mob in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, directing the security operatives in the State to go after the killers and bring them to justice, describing the act as barbaric and unacceptable.
The Governor stressed that no one has the right to take another person’s life, adding that the nature of the attack was of serious concern to the Government and those responsible would face the full wrath of the law. He emphasized that such acts of jungle justice are alien to Edo State and would not be tolerated under his administration.
Anetor Clinton Efemhokike, along with a few other members of the vigilante group who are currently at large, have hereby been declared wanted under the instruction of the State Government as they failed to honor police invitation after investigation revealed their involvement.
The Edo State Police Command said 14 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident. At the same time, Anetor Clinton Efemhokike and other members of the vigilante who fled have been declared wanted with a bounty of 10 million Naira for whoever reveals their hideout for police to get them arrested.
A statement by the command’s spokesperson, CSP, Moses Yamu, said, ‘‘on March 27, 2025, a truck with registration number KKF 225 XA, coming from Port Harcourt, conveying 25 travellers from Elele, a suburb of Rivers State, was stopped by local security operatives (vigilante). Upon searching the vehicle, firearms were discovered, triggering a mob attack that led to the killing and burning of the suspects at Uromi.
“Some of the victims who were found in possession of firearms were arrested.
“While this was ongoing, some community members raised an alarm, allegedly identifying them as kidnappers, which led some passersby and members of the community to attack and lynch 16 of the victims while the truck conveying them was equally burnt”.
He said the police went to the scene where 10 of the suspected kidnappers were rescued, while two of those who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to a hospital.
He added that Police Mobile Force personnel with other command tactical teams had been deployed to search and find Anetor Clinton Efemhokike and others to bring them to justice.