The residents of Uromi community and neighboring communities around Old Ilushi Road, Opere, and Good Will Junction in Edo State, have begun fleeing the town following the brutal killing of 16 Northern travellers by a suspicious mob on Thursday.
The residents of Uromi town have been reported to have deserted their homes and gone into hiding for fear of retaliation by other Northerners or mass arrest by security agencies.
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This is coming after the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo paid a visit to the town elders in bid to tackle the growing tension in the state, assuring the public and other stakeholders that justice will be gotten for the victims.
Reports gathered revealed that residents of Uromi and its environs have stopped going to work in their farms, while many others are now seeking refuge in neighbouring towns.
Some residents who spoke with press man shed some light into circumstances that led to the mob action.
A resident identified as Monday, said: “The vigilante group received information from areas on the stretch of Old Ilushi road, from where the travellers were coming, that they had weapons in their vehicle.
‘’When they arrived in Uromi, the vigilantes asked them to step down, but the travellers refused, leading to an altercation. One of them pulled out a knife, prompting the vigilantes to raise alarm, accusing them of being kidnappers.
“Nobody justified the action. However, those who took part in the mob action have fled, while innocent individuals have been arrested,
“The area remains deserted, with few motorbikes passing through. However, at around 12 noon on Monday (yesterday), police returned to arrest more people. The community has been plagued by incessant kidnappings, carried out by hunters and herders from the northern part of the country.
Another resident said “In as much as we are not justifying the killings, because two wrongs don’t make a right, these people are not hunters as claimed because the hunters we have seen also go with dogs.
“Our local vigilantes have been on the trail of these suspected kidnappers. It has been tough for everybody, so on the fateful day, these people were sighted near Ubiaja where they flagged down a truck coming from the east and they entered with their guns and luggage believed to include huge sums of money.
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“I think where the vigilantes in Uromi that stopped them missed it was not handing them over to the police, instead of resorting to self-help and you know many of the people who were around have been victims of kidnappings directly and indirectly in the area.
Following this, there has also been panic and widepraed fear in Ekpoma as it was also reported that there was commotion in Ekpoma market earlier yesterday, with rumours stating the Fulani were planning to invade the town, which is not too far from Uromi.
Motorists were reported to have made U-turns when the rumour came that the market was about to be attacked.
It was, however, gathered that security personnel were immediately mobilised to the area to restore normalcy.
Meanwhile, the governor of Edo state, has assured all stakeholders of full compensation to the families of the victims.
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