Following the lynching of several travelers in a mob attack by a local vigilante group and residents of Udune Efandion in Edo State, on Friday, March 28, stakeholders have canvassed the need for an urgent orientation intervention that would restore Nigerians’ confidence in the nation’s criminal justice system.
It was reported that the northern Nigerian travellers were profiled as kidnappers or members of a violent group, intercepted and attacked.
The victims were travelling from Elele in Rivers State to Kano in the country’s North West for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festivities when their truck was stopped along the Uromi/Obajana Expressway at around 1:30 p.m.
Some of the travelers, said to have been found with dane guns, were said to have survived the assault by fleeing the scene but others were not lucky as an angry mob burnt them to ashes.
The latest jungle justice in Edo highlighted the dangerous trend by some Nigerians who take laws into their hands.
According to Amnesty International, mob violence has surged in Nigeria, with at least 555 victims documented between 2012 and 2023. Of these, 57 were killed—some burned alive or tortured to death. The victims of the Uromi attack were burned using tyres.
Reacting to the development, a lawyer, Nurudeen Kareem, described the Edo’s incident as a message to managers of the nation’s judicial and criminal justice system that Nigerians have lost interest in reporting cases to relevant authorities.
The legal practitioner condemned the extrajudicial killings, describing them as barbaric, horrific and dastardly.
However, Kareem called on governments at all levels to embark on reform of the judicial and criminal justice system, stressing the need for security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, to win back citizens’ trust.
“What happened in Edo is an indication of orientation backwardness and it equally speaks volumes on the perception of an average Nigerian about our justice system. It was horrific, devastating and dastardly, but the lesson to be learned from it is that a message was passed to the managers of our judicial system, because an average Nigerian believes that when a criminal is apprehended, it is better to do the jungle justice rather than handling them over to the managers of the criminal justice system. This is not exclusive to the Edo people; we have always heard this incident from all parts of the country, people taking the laws into their own hands. That is why I said it is an indication of orientation backwardness of an average Nigerian. It indicates the level of trust that an average Nigerian has in the Nigerian criminal justice system.
“An average Nigerian believes that it is better to just kill a suspect caught red-handed killing someone because of the inadequacies in the system. They believe that if the suspect is handed over to the Police for instance, the person may get off the hook. We are suffering systemic failure, a weak and compromised criminal justice system. If a suspected thief is arrested today, the trial may still be ongoing in the next ten years and when the matter has been frustrated, you will just hear that the suspect has escaped.
“Even as I condemn this jungle attack, one cannot close his eyes to the fact that the notoriety and recurring cases of kidnapping in that Edo route might have triggered them to act. They should not have jumped to the conclusion that they were kidnappers,” he said.
Kareem added that, “The law encourages any citizen to report any suspected crime to the police but the problem we are confronted with in this country is that an average Nigeria will be afraid to report a crime to the police because in Nigeria, the manner in which the police handle a complaint in such a way that the person that reports a crime will be seen as the criminal is discouraging and this attitude must change if this menace will be tackled.”
Also speaking in a similar vein, a lecturer, Oluyemi Omotosho-Junior, explained that the recent mob violence confers total loss of confidence on security apparatus in the country.
“People are helping themselves since security agencies cannot help. I am sure that where this Edo incident took place cannot be up to one kilometer to a police station and nobody thought to let us report to the police. When you report to the police over a matter, you may end up being in trouble. I condemn the idea of taking laws into their hands. The security agencies are just corrupt. The security agencies are the people that should bring orderliness and once they are compromised, it means everything will be compromised.
“Values have been lost in this country. Police have to be bribed before handling cases diligently. Until the Nigeria Police find a way to discourage collecting money from people, we may not get out of this mess of jungle justice,” he maintained.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, attributed the worsening mob attacks to failure of law enforcement agencies to prevent mob violence, investigate allegations of torture and killings, and bring suspected perpetrators to justice.
According to him, the inadequacies have been empowering mobs to kill, insisting that, “the problem is compounded by weak and corrupt legal institutions and systems.”
However, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has suspended the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin, following the March 27 lynching of travellers in Uromi, the Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement on Sunday, the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, confirmed Ibadin’s suspension and announced a ban on all unregistered vigilante groups in the state.
The statement read, “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that after a review of the preliminary report of the unfortunate incident of Thursday 27th March 2025 at Uromi in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State involving the gruesome killing of some travellers, the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo has ordered the immediate suspension of all illegal vigilante groups operating under whatever guise in the State.”
“Also suspended is the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, CP. Friday Ibadin (retd.).”
The statement added, “It is to be reiterated that the local vigilante group involved in the gruesome killing of 27th March was operating illegally as it was never profiled or registered with Edo State Security Corps.
“Its actions do not reflect the core values, character and principles of the Okpebholo administration, or the objectives of the corps as enshrined in the Edo State Security Corps Governance Law.
“Investigations into the killings are ongoing, and 14 persons have been arrested so far, while there is an intense manhunt for others involved in the gruesome killing by a special team set up by the Inspector General of Police.
“The government of Edo State reiterates its belief in the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens to move freely or engage in lawful business in any part of the country.”
The state government said it is in contact with the victims’ families, community leaders, and the Kano State Government, where most of the deceased reportedly originated.
“We urge all parties involved to remain calm as the state government remains committed to ensuring that justice is done in a most efficient, transparent and proactive manner,” the statement concluded.
Also, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has condemned the killing of travellers in Edo State, vowing that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
In a statement on Sunday by the Director Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, the CDS said the tragic incident could have been prevented had the appropriate authorities been notified to verify the identities of the victims.
Musa said, “General Christopher Musa has condemned in strong terms the unfortunate killing of hunters while on transit in Edo State. The incident, which occurred on 28 March 2025, could have been avoided if the appropriate authorities were notified and involved in ascertaining the identity of the victims.
“General Musa condoled with the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the families of those who lost their lives.”
He also urged citizens to avoid taking the law into their own hands and instead rely on security agencies for conflict resolution.
Musa assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will collaborate with the police and other security agencies to ensure justice is served.
Musa said, “The CDS also urged Nigerians not to take laws into their hands but always revert to constituted authorities in matters that affect security. The Nigeria police, military, and other security agencies are well trained to handle such matters.
“The Chief of Defence Staff assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will work closely with the police and other relevant security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.”
He warned vigilante groups, hunters among others to register with relevant agencies to regulate the possession of firearms.
Musa said, “He warned that all local hunters and vigilante groups should register with the police, DSS, AFN and any other agencies mandated by law to regulate the possession of firearms, while calling on vigilante groups to always revert to police for appropriate action.
“He also sued for calm and sought for citizens’ support to the AFN and other security agencies to continue to perform their constitutional duties with diligence.”