The apex northern sociocultural group,Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has demanded thorough investigation into the killing of northerners in Uromi,Edo State, and full compensation to their families.
ACF in a statement issued by it’s national publicity Secretary Professor Tukur Muhammad -Baba reiterated that the forum is gravely saddened by the gruesome, cold-blooded murder of 19 (so far) Nigerian citizens, perpetrated by mobstars masquerading as community vigilantes at Uromi, Edo State, on Thursday, 27th March, 2025.
Prof. Muhammad -Baba said, the victims were traveling to Kano for Sallah celebrations and were just passing through Edo State when they were attacked and literally roasted alive in the most brazen, barbaric and heart-wrenching way, in the manner of prehistoric times.
“Ostensibly, the victims met their sad ends after being “mistaken” for kidnappers. Expectantly, the incident continues to elicit outrage and condemnations from many in Nigeria and beyond. Amnesty Internationally, Human Rights Watch, key media outlets, etc., have also condemned the incident, calling for investigations and justice to prevail.
ACF however rejected the misleading narratives, perhaps designed to blunt the horrors of the tragedy, that the incidence was an outcome of mistaken identity.
“Beyond the surface, at play was the widespread ethnic profiling deeply entrenched stereotyping and prejudices against Northerners. It remains inconceivable and counterintuitive that “kidnappers” operate openly, in plain public view, on highways through towns and communities. Suspected “kidnappers” ought to have been surrendered to the Police as was the driver of the vehicle conveying them in the instant case.
“Incompetence, if not indeed complicity of law enforcement agencies, especially personnel of the NPF also enabled the tragedy as did impunity. Many a criminal habour little fear of justice, which usually comes very slowly, if at all.
“As ACF recently observed, UROMI 19 is a perverse illustration of Nigeria’s shambolic state of security. ACF recalls drawing attention to the not-infrequent attacks and fatal harassment of trailer drivers conveying goods along roads in the South East. Thus, the tragedy cannot be isolated from the pattern of ethnic profiling against Northerners pursuing livelihoods opportunities in other parts of Nigeria.
“In plain terms, UROMI 19 was premeditated and fits into the pattern of misbegotten ethnic profiling and stigmatization against Northerners and these must not be missed or ignored, for their wider implications for national security, unity and harmonious inter-group relations in Nigeria. Still, ACF is of the opinion that the nation must put the tragic incident behind as the past is gone but there is much to be feared about tomorrow.
Although ACF commended the quick reaction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who also directed the security agents to fish out and prosecute the perpetrators. Nonetheless, said, the response was at best plaintive, as he gave no timelines and assigned specific responsibilities, given the grave consequences of the tragedy;
The forum also commended Senator Monday Okpebholo, Edo State Governor for his prompt attention to the incident, by disbanding unregistered vigilante operations suspending officials overseeing non-state security operators, reaching out to the Kano State Government, the families of the victims, reaching out to the Arewa Community in the State and for taking other measures to bring the situation under control. But stressed however, that suspension from duty is insufficient, such officials must be investigated for possible culpability in the incident.
“We call for payment of full compensation to the families of the victims for the loss of their members and thorough investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of the tragedy by an independent judicial commission panel for the purpose, sans undue delays.
” We also call for a thorough investigation of the National Security Agencies (especially NPF agents) in the matter, before, during and after the incident for prosecution as accessories to murder. This in view of emerging witness accounts which, ominously suggest that relevant NPF offices were alerted to the tragedy as it unfolded but did little to intervene.
“The relevant heads of such the NPF offices (Divisional Police Officers or DPOs) should be suspended pending further investigations and necessary action into their behaviours before, during and after the incident;
“Call on FGN and state Governments to take concrete steps to end the profiling and stigmatization of Northerners and for due respect to their rights of movement and residency in any part of Nigeria in line with relevant provisions of the Constitution.
“Call on local government area councils and state authorities in the North to sensitise their citizens and issue periodic advisories about common sensical precautions to take when engaged in extensive inter-state travels in Nigeria. Such travels should only be undertaken on the basis of basic security risks and threats analyses, given the potentials for being misunderstood deliberately or otherwise.
ACF also called on the people of Arewa to refuse to be provoked, eschew violence and never contemplate counter-attacks but that instead, Arewa people should always embrace circumspection, remain law abiding and be guided by edifying high moral standards in conduct as they accommodate strangers in their midst.
