The tragic killings of 16 hunters in Uromi, Edo State, have sparked national outrage and highlighted significant security lapses within Nigeria.
The victims, who were traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, were intercepted and brutally lynched. This shocking act has caused a wave of anger across Nigeria, with citizens from all walks of life expressing their disbelief and horror.
The incident is not only barbaric but also tarnishes the image of the country, reducing us all to a collective sense of shame.
In the wake of the killings, the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, responded by visiting the grieving families. On March 31, he traveled to Torankawa village in Kano State, where most of the victims hailed from, to offer his condolences.
He also paid his respects to Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, a fellow son of Kano. Through these gestures, Governor Okpebholo has demonstrated a responsible approach to leadership, offering some solace to the families and helping to calm the public’s anger.
However, while the governor’s actions are commendable, one can’t help but wish that the same level of national outrage was consistently shown whenever similar tragic events unfold. Often, when bandits and terrorists kill, abduct, or harm Nigerians in various parts of the country, the public’s response is less pronounced.
Politicians, especially, seem to pick and choose when to express their anger, often guided by political or ethnic considerations, instead of universal justice.
This selective outrage has been witnessed in past incidents, such as the lynching of Deborah in Sokoto and the gruesome beheading of Akaluka in Kano, both of which provoked significant, yet sometimes uneven, reactions from the public and leaders alike.
What is particularly disturbing is that this failure to respond adequately to past tragedies may have contributed to the escalation of violence in Uromi.
Had there been a more coordinated and proactive effort from the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators of earlier crimes, perhaps the need for self-defense groups like vigilantes wouldn’t have arisen.
For months, armed men, suspected to be herders, had been wreaking havoc in Edo and Ondo states, abducting farmers and committing murders with impunity. The inability of security forces to curb these attacks led the community to take matters into their own hands, further compounding the problem.
The resort to vigilante groups is not an isolated issue but rather a clear sign of the state’s failure to protect its citizens. It’s a desperate measure by embattled individuals who feel neglected and unsafe.
When the government abdicates its primary duty of ensuring safety, citizens often have no choice but to defend themselves. The tragic lynching of the 16 hunters could have been avoided if the state had shown better governance and security measures.
The security agencies’ response to the Uromi killings has also been a point of contention. The speed with which they apprehended the culprits stands in stark contrast to their previous sluggishness when dealing with bandits and herders in the region.
Time and again, security forces have arrived late at the scene of massacres, often citing logistical challenges or difficult terrain as excuses. Worse still, when they do arrive, they sometimes target the grieving relatives of the victims instead of focusing on the real perpetrators.
This lack of proactivity and delayed response has been a recurring issue in states like Zamfara, Benue, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Plateau, where citizens regularly suffer from mass killings and abductions.
Even recent protests by students and youths in Ondo and Benue States, highlighting the ongoing violence, have done little to spur significant action from security agencies.
It is evident that Nigeria’s leaders must do more than offer condolences in the aftermath of tragedies. They must tackle the root causes of violence by strengthening the security apparatus and ensuring the safety of the citizenry.
In addition, empowering the youth with skills and job opportunities will prevent them from resorting to risky ventures like hunting in dangerous areas.
While it’s right to condemn the Uromi killings, we must also reflect on the broader picture. The failure of the state to protect its citizens, provide opportunities for the youth, and uphold the rule of law has played a significant role in creating the conditions that led to this tragedy.
It’s essential to remember that Uromi, the hometown of prominent figures like the Enahoro brothers, deserves better. This incident, despite the violence, should not define the essence of this rich and culturally significant community.
In the end, our collective outrage should be coupled with a demand for better governance and security in Nigeria. Only then can we ensure that such barbaric acts are a thing of the past.
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