International human rights group, Amnesty International, has strongly condemned the killing of over 16 travellers in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident.
Chronicle NG reports that some hunters who were travelling for Sallah were killed by a mob that intercepted the victims at Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
In a statement signed by the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, the organization stated that the attack on the hunters highlighted “the authorities’ shocking failure to uphold and fulfil their obligation to protect people from harm and violence”.
“Viral videos of the horrific attack show the victims covered in blood, pleading for their lives while a cheering crowd watched as they were assaulted with axes, stones, daggers, iron rods, and machetes.
”Their vehicle was reportedly blocked by a local vigilante group and an armed mob, who dragged them out one by one, beat them, and set them ablaze. The Nigerian authorities must immediately and transparently investigate the lynching of at least 16 travellers, whose vehicle was blocked before they were brutally attacked and burned alive by vigilantes and armed youths in Uromi, Edo State,” Sanusi stated.
Sanusi also expressed alarm about the growing trend of mob violence and extrajudicial executions in Nigeria, notably the impunity with which vigilante groups operated on highways, stating that the government’s inability to investigate such incidents emboldened the offenders.
“The horrific mob violence that occurred in Uromi is part of a rising trend where vigilante groups unlawfully block roads and carry out brutal attacks.
“The persistent failure of the Nigerian government to investigate and prosecute such cases has emboldened these violent mobs to take the law into their hands,” he said.
The rights group highlighted that under international law, Nigeria is expected to protect the rights of all individuals, even those suspected of crimes, encouraging the government to move beyond merely condemning the conduct to taking tangible actions to bring the offenders to justice.
“Under international law, the Nigerian authorities have an obligation to protect the rights of those accused of crimes, including the right to life and the right not to be subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.
“The Nigerian authorities must go beyond merely condemning the incident and ensure that the suspected attackers are identified and promptly brought to justice in a fair trial. The consistent failure of the Nigerian government to punish mob violence has created an environment in which violent mobs believe themselves entitled to take the law into their own hands.
“The Nigerian authorities must ensure that those responsible for this attack are identified and swiftly prosecuted in a fair trial. Failure to act will only perpetuate the culture of impunity and encourage further acts of mob violence,” Sanusi added.
The organisation urged the Nigerian government to take decisive steps to reduce mob violence and deliver justice for victims.
It also advised law enforcement agencies to improve their ability to respond to such instances and prevent them from occurring again.
