The Senate has condemned the killing of 16 travellers in Uromi, Edo state, describing the incident as a gross violation of human rights and a threat to national unity.
On March 27, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo allegedly attacked and killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Elele, Rivers state. The victims, many of whom were from Kano state, were reportedly attacked and set ablaze by suspected vigilante members.
Raising a motion during the plenary on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Sen. Sumaila Kawu, the senator representing Kano south, said the killings were unjustified and posed a danger to Nigeria’s fragile security structure. Sen. Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president, equally criticised the actions of the vigilantes, saying they should have handed the travellers to law enforcement for proper investigation.
In a statement he issued after the attack, Sen. Sumaila said ‘no society that upholds justice and the rule of law can allow such heinous crimes to go unpunished’.
“I am deeply shocked and outraged by the brutal and senseless killing of innocent people in Benin City, Edo State, by individuals who have taken the law into their own hands. This barbaric and uncivilized act is a clear violation of the fundamental right to life and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
It’s a known fact that hunters in Nigeria play a very important role in community security, especially in rural areas affected by banditry and insurgency. However, their activities across state borders have raised serious concerns, particularly when they enter unfamiliar communities without coordination or approval.
Inter state hunting, when it’s not regulated, easily leads to clashes with local peace and the credibility of hunters as community protectors. To prevent the reoccurring of this unfortunate conflicts, there must be a clear legal framework defining the limit of hunting operation across state lines. Hunting licenses should be state-specific, with cross-border movement allowed only through proper authorization and coordination with local authorities. Traditional rulers and local security bodies should be actively involved in the process.
Hunters have proven their worth in this country’s security landscape. But without regulations, their presence across borders can do more harm than good, adding to the proliferation of banditry activities already bedeviled the nation. The government should look inward and review the hunters activities the earlier the better, for stitch in time save nine.
The senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims and resolved to support the ongoing investigation by the Edo state government.
The lawmakers also called for adequate compensation for the bereaved families and demanded urgent legislation to regulate vigilante and local hunter groups across the country. They said the proposed law would provide a legal framework for identifying, monitoring and supervising the operations of such groups, particularly during interstate activities. The lawmakers added that a formal oversight mechanism would help prevent future occurrences, uphold the rule of law, and rebuild public trust in community security efforts.
