From Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Salim Umar Ibrahim (Kano) & Usman Bello (Benin)
Families of the 16 northern travellers that were lynched in the wee hours of Friday at Uromi in Edo State have cried out for justice.
The bereaved family members, in separate interviews with Daily Trust at the weekend, also shared harrowing details of the victims’ last moments.
The travellers, who were said to be hunters, were on their way from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kano for the Sallah celebration when some vigilantes intercepted and lynched them on suspicion that they were kidnappers.
Our correspondents visited Torankawa village in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State, where some of the victims hailed from and spoke to their relations. Other victims were from Garko, Kibiya and Rano villages.
Torankawa village, which has been thrown into mourning since the incident, is known for hunting expeditions which are believed to be undertaken to test members’ masculinity and martyrdom.
Six of the slain hunters and a survivor are from the village. Among the deceased were Abdulkadir Umar, survived by two wives and his mother; Zaharaddeen Tanko, survived by a wife and four children and Haruna Hamidan, who left behind a wife and four children.
Others were Usaini Musa, who had two wives and two children; Abdullahi Harisu, who got married four months ago; and Ya’u Umaru and Abubakar Ado, who were young bachelors.
The leader of the hunters, Ibrahim Isa, a father of six, who is the sole survivor from the village, is said to be bedridden in an Edo hospital.
‘My phone conversation with my brother during the attack’
Muhammadu Sunusi Torankawa, a younger brother of the hunters’ leader, Ibrahim Isa, who survived the attack, recalled their phone conversation during the attack.
“He called me in distress, saying they were in grave danger and that we should pray for them. He told me that he had been attacked with a machete on his shoulder, just near his neck, but miraculously survived due to his protective charms.
“He told me how he hid and watched as his men were dragged one by one and set on fire. He had already resigned to his fate, believing he would bleed to death.
“It was only by God’s grace that he was rescued by security personnel and taken to a hospital. He is still there, fighting to recover,” he said.
‘I lost a son, brother and nephew’
A grieving woman, Sadiya Sa’adu, said apart from her son, Haruna Hamidan, she also lost her brother and nephew to the attack.
She called on the authorities to ensure justice was served.
She said: “They were not criminals; they were simply out to make an honest living. My son’s blood must not be spilled in vain.
“As a mother, I have forgiven him, and I pray his soul rests in peace as he died in the holy month of Ramadan. And for the authorities, they should make sure that what happened is dealt with in accordance with the law.
“They were not thieves, they were out to look out for and get what to feed themselves and their families with. This is something that they have been doing for ages.
“He is not the only one I lost in this tragedy; there is a son to my elder sister and a brother also. We are all relatives from the same family.”
Also speaking to Daily Trust amidst tears, Hamidan’s widow, Zahura, said he called her “barely two hours before the attack, telling me they were on their way back.”
She said her husband left behind “not just his wife and four children, but also an unfinished house, a dream he had hoped to complete for his family. He was so determined to finish the project, but fate had another thing in store for him.”
‘My son’s last words to me’
Aisha Harisu, the mother of one of the slain hunters, Abdullahi Harisu, 21, said her son, who got married four months ago, recalled his last discussion with her on the phone.
She said: “He told me, ‘Umma, please pray for us.’ Those were his last words to me. We depended on him for almost everything.”
His widow, Khadija, could not fight back tears when Daily Trust approached her for an interview.
But his father, Isah, spoke of his son’s dedication to the family’s tradition of hunting.
“He came to me to inform me that he was going on the annual hunting expedition, and I gave him my blessing. He left with our prayers, but he is never to come back,” he said.
Edo vigilante commander ordered the killings – Driver
The driver of the slain hunters said the commander of a vigilante group in the state ordered their killing.
The driver, in a video seen yesterday by Daily Trust, narrated how the hunters were attacked.
“I took a product from our company in Obajana, and when I reached Illele, I saw these people. They were my brothers from the North – hunters from Rano Local Government – on their way home for Sallah. I told them that company policy prohibited me from picking up passengers, but they were my brothers.
“I initially left them behind and drove about two kilometres before I stopped to think; I had abandoned my own brothers, stranded in the South, seeking help. My conscience wouldn’t let me continue, so I turned around and went back to them. When I told them I couldn’t leave them behind, they were surprised but grateful.
“We had no issues on the road until we reached Uromi, where we were stopped. They asked what I was transporting, and I showed them the waybill for my goods. Then they asked about the men with me. I explained who they were, but their leader refused to believe me. One of them climbed onto the truck, saw their local hunting guns and dogs, and immediately declared, ‘These people are kidnappers and Boko Haram.’
“Without warning, they smashed my windscreen and side glass, then started beating and stoning us. The vigilante commander handcuffed me along with an elderly man named Haruna and a young boy named Ila. They continued beating the rest.
“The three of us were taken to the police station, where the vigilante commander told the officers that he had brought in kidnappers. We were locked up, but before he left, he instructed his men to kill the others. And they did—16 to 17 innocent men were brutally murdered.
“As for the governor’s claim that this was not ethnic violence, he is lying! It was just me and the hunters. The vigilantes stopped us and gruesomely killed my brothers.”
It’s a wound we’ll live with forever – Community leader
Yakubu Alhaji Abdu Torankawa, the community’s deputy district head, described the hunters’ killing as an “unforgettable” trauma.
“We are Muslims, and we accept whatever comes from God, but this is a tragedy, unlike anything I have witnessed in my entire life.
“The entire community is in mourning. These were young men in their prime, returning home after a legitimate hunting expedition. They had obtained permission from the Kano Emirate and carried the necessary documents. They had done this for years without any problems.
“The world has seen what happened, it was barbaric. What was their crime? Do we not have the right to move freely in our own country?
“The vigilante group that did this to us has inflicted a wound we will carry for the rest of our lives. We demand justice. The authorities must not let the blood of our brothers be in vain.”
How fate saved two hunters
Dahiru Muhammad and Muhammadu Kabiru were among those meant to travel with the group, but fate saved them.
Dahiru said: “I don’t like travelling in a crowd. So, we left earlier. We spoke to them when they were nearing Enugu. Later, I tried to reach them, but their phones were off. When I heard the news, my heart sank and I knew that we had lost them.
“We were supposed to travel with them, but I left earlier and while in Port Harcourt, we were all together there. Honestly, I don’t like travelling in a crowd and we left earlier, myself and one other person.
“We spoke with them on the phone when we almost reached Kano and they told us they were also on their way and had passed Enugu.
“When I heard about it, I called them and couldn’t reach anyone. I later called someone and he confirmed to me what happened. It is really sad.
“May God Almighty grant their souls eternal peace. We have never encountered anything like this for years that we have been travelling for hunting. The only thing is security agents will stop us and when we identify ourselves, they allow us to go.”
Edo delegation to visit Kano
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf yesterday announced that the state government would be sending a high-power delegations to Torankawa village to meet with the families of the victims.
The governor disclosed this in his Sallah message to the people of the state.
He described the incident as unfortunate and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The state’s Director Press, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said members of the delegation would soon be announced as the government was taking the issue seriously.
Sources at the Kano State Government House said that the governor of Edo State will be in Kano today for a condolence visit to Governor Yusuf as well as to condole the families of the victims.
Hunters’ association cancels planned protest, demands justice
At a press conference in Kano, the secretary of the Kano State Hunters’ Association, Usman Mu’azu Abdullahi Yakasai, popularly known as Alaska, said:
“These innocent souls were out legally on an annual routine of hunting, and they were attacked with no justification.”
He termed the attack as barbaric, saying the association would not relent in its effort to see that justice is done to its members.
He said the association had earlier planned to stage a national protest, but after due consultations, it cancelled the plan and opted to present a formal complaint to the Kano State Government seeking justice for “these innocent souls.”
Alaska further stated that the association was satisfied with the manner the authorities were addressing the matter, as many had come out to publicly condemn the killing.
He also called on all members of the association and the general public to be patient and allow the law to do its job.
“We are law-abiding citizens and we will allow the law to take its course on the perpetrators of this heinous act,” he said.
Bayero, Sanusi, lawmaker call for justice
Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, 15th emir of Kano and Muhammadu Sanusi II, 16th emir, have also called for justice.
In their separate sermons during the Eid-el Fitr prayers yesterday, they called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book.
While praying for the repose of the souls of the victims, they also prayed against a reoccurrence of the attack, which they described as inhuman.
Also, the member of the House of Representatives (Fagge Federal Constituency), Mohammed Bello Shehu, expressed sorrow over the killing of the hunters and condoled with their families.
He said every Nigerian, regardless of ethnicity or place of residence, has the right to live in peace and security without fear of attack.
“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the recent killings of innocent northerners in Edo State. Such acts of brutality are unacceptable and must be met with swift justice.
“I call on the relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to book,” the lawmaker stated.
How we rescued 10 hunters
The spokesman of the state police command, Moses Yamu, had on Friday said that on hearing about the attack, officers of the command rushed to the scene and rescued 10 of the travellers and took them to a hospital for treatment.
Edo community in Kano condemns attack, calls for justice
The Edo Community Association in Kano also yesterday condemned the attack on the hunters and called for justice.
In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Philip Tomon, the association said: “We sympathize with the families of those who lost their lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences and stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time.
“We urge the authorities to swiftly act on this lawlessness and ensure that justice is served.”
Gov Okpebholo sacks security corps boss, suspends vigilante groups
Reacting to the hunters’ killing, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has ordered the suspension of all illegal vigilante groups operating in the state.
The governor also suspended the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, CP Friday Ibadin (rtd).
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Musa Ikhilor, read in part, “After a review of the preliminary report of the unfortunate incident involving the gruesome killing of some travellers, the Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate suspension of all illegal vigilante groups operating under whatever guise in the state.
“The local vigilante group involved in the gruesome killing 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.”
He said investigations into the killing were ongoing and that 14 people have so far been arrested; the police have commenced a manhunt for others involved in the gruesome killing.
According to the statement, the governor reiterated his belief in the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens to move freely or engage in lawful business in any part of the country.
He said the state was in touch with families of the victims, community leaders and the government of Kano State, where most of the deceased are reported to hail from.
He assured that his administration remained committed to ensuring that justice is done in the most efficient, transparent and proactive manner.
Deceased buried in Uromi
Meanwhile, the deceased were buried on Saturday in Uromi, Edo State, amid tears by relations and the Hausa community in the area.
The traditional ruler of Uromi, the Ojuromi of Uromi, Anselm Aidenojie II, who visited the Hausa community alongside Governor Okpebholo, during the burial, condemned the killing.
He assured the community that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
The monarch said the security agencies were taking measures to avert reprisals.
Nigerians should feel safe in all regions – Oluwo
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, also yesterday condemned the hunters’ killing, saying Nigerians should be protected in all parts of the country.
The Oluwo, who spoke after Eid-el-Fitr prayer in Iwo, said Nigerians should be free to live anywhere in the country without fear of intimidation or harassment.
He stated: “I condemn the jungle justice on the Fulani hunters in all entirety. They are Nigerians, and Nigerians should be protected at all times, anywhere.
“Nigerians should be free to live anywhere. Nigerians should be safe and secure regardless of ethnicity, religion or tribe. Every Nigerian should be safe in Nigeria. An Ibo man should be able to live in the North and vice versa in peace without discrimination.
“This is what I’ve been preaching all the time. Any Sokoto man living in Iwo, I am their Sultan. The Sultan of Sokoto should be the Oluwo to any Iwo son living in Sokoto. A Kano man living in Iwo, I am his Emir while I’m the Awujale of any Ijebu man living in Iwo.
“This is our philosophy from the get-go. It’s about love and everybody accepting any Nigerian, no matter the ethnicity or tribe. Nigeria is for Nigerians, and Nigerians should be safe to live anywhere they choose to live.”