Edo State Governor Monday ot Pepolo on Monday visited Carno State to sympathize with the people of the state over the last Thursday killing of travelers at a Romi town in the Essen Northeast Local government area of Edo State, when some youths in the Edo community that have been experiencing incessant killings and abductions of the villages by suspected herders, stopped a moving Dangote cement truck and found the travelers to be in possession of nineteen locally fabricated guns, which
some members of the public claimed the travelers were hunters traveling from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Carno with
the guns alleged to be licensed. This the Nigeria police boss, the Inspector General of Police IGP, car Yode Eggbato Can apparently dismiss the allegations that the Dane guns were licensed and probably described the victims to be in possession of illegal firearms and thus warned and directed anyone in possession of illegal firearms to surrender such to the nearest police station and directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in
charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department FCID dig Sadi Kabubakha to take over the case, with reports indicating that the fourteen suspects arrested in connection to the mobbing and burning to death of the travelers, said to be sixteen in numbers, may have been transferred to Abouja for police investigation.
A video made available on Saturday indicated that the victims were buried at a cemetery in Aromi, with a background voice in the video saying the death toll rose to nineteen, suggesting some of the victims that were rushed to the hospital could not survive the attack. While the Edo State governor visited Carno State, the Governor of Carno State, Aber Yusuf, and the Nigerian Bar Association NBA in the state urged the government of Edo's state to pay compensation to the
families of the travelers mobbed and bird to death. Governor Yusuf, who spoke while hosting his Edo counterpart Monday ob Pepolo, called for the prosecution of the suspects and urged the state government to disclose their identities and compensate the families of the deceased. This is a serious tragedy that must not be overlooked. We expect prompt prosecution of the suspects and adequate compensation to the families affected by this act
of brutality, Governor Yusef stated. The Carno State Branch of NBA, in a statement issued by its chairperson Usmanfari, described the incident as a heinous act that must not go unpunished. The government of Edo's State must take full responsibility for this tragic incident. Those involved must be prosecuted for murder and the government must provide adequate compensation to the families
of the victims, said Fari. We appreciate the maturity and patience of Karno residents for not resorting to retaliation or reprisal attacks. Justice must be pursued through legal and appropriate channels, the NBA added. Meanwhile, Governor ok Pepholo, while speaking during the visit, condoled the government and people of Carno State and North West Nigeria over the incident. I am here to console the people of Karnos State and the affected families.
We are not happy with what happened. We are saddened by it, ok Pepolo said. He lived at Byadi Yadi area in Karnos State before and narrated how he enjoyed tremendous support from the northern community during his electioneering. Governor ot Pepolo had earlier visited the Deputy President of the Senate, Barrau Gibrin over the killings and said fourteen suspects arrested over the incident would be moved to the Police Force headquarters in Abuja to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident.
After visiting the Deputy Senate President, Governor ot Pepholo tweeted on his ex social media handle and stated that today I visited the Deputy Senate President, Senator Baraujibrin at his residence in Abuja to reaffirm my commitment to ensue during justice for the tragic killings in Aromi Edo State. So far, fourteen suspects have been arrested and will be transferred to
Abouja for further interrogation. This barbaric act is unacceptable and both the Edo State government and the Federal government under the directive of President Bola Ahmed t Enubu, are taking swift and decisive action to bring all culprits to book. We have also set up a committee to support the victim's families. Currently, iron My team a meeting with the Carno State Governor to further address concerns and strengthen peace efforts. Justice must be served. Edo State stands for peace, unity
and security. The Nigeria Police Force, in a statement issued at the weekend by the force Public relations Officer Olomi had A Joby, indicated that the Inspector General of Police IGP, car Yode Adelu Egbato CAN has strongly condemned the violent mob action carried out against a group of travelers by a local vigilante group along the Aromi Hobijana Road in Edo State. The group of individuals, who were traveling in a truck and claimed to be hunters, were found in
possession of nineteen nineteen locally fabricated firearms. When intercepted by the vigilantes, who were not satisfied with the excuse of being hunters to be in possession of such number of arms, concluded they were kidnappers. Regrettably, without allowing for due process or proper investigation into their claims, the vigilante group subjected some of them to unlawful mob justice, resulting in tragic consequences. In immediate response, the Edo State Police Command deployed operatives
to the affected community, restoring law and order. So far, fourteen fourteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, while a man hunt has been launched for other perpetrators involved in the mob action. The IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department FCID dig C D. Kabubaka to take over the case and insure a thorough, impartial and expedited investigation.
He assured the public that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate any form of unlawful killings or extra judicial actions under any guise. The IGP further appeals for calm and urges members of the public to cooperate fully with the investigation. He emphasized that anyone found culpable will be made to
face the full weight of the law. Additionally, while condemning the resort to jungle justice, the Nigeria Police Force reiterates that the unlawful possession of firearms remains a criminal offense under Nigerian law. Individuals in possession of unlicensed firearms are advised to report to the nearest police station to surrender
such weapons or initiate the appropriate licensing process. The Force war the public to desist from taking the law into their hands and encourages the prompt reporting of suspicious activities to lawful authorities. The police statement ends. Earlier, the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force narrated how the incident occurred when the local vigilante group members intercepted a Dangote cement truck and found the travelers to be in
possession of guns. In a statement issued by the police Command, spokesperson Moses Yamu indicated that the Edo State Police Command has condemned the killing of some armed travelers in a trak at Udu Nafandian community along Aromi Abajana Expressway, Edo State on the twenty seventh of March twenty twenty five.
The incident occurred when the truck with registration number KKF two hundred and twenty five XA, coming from Portharcourt, conveying twenty five travelers from a Lela, a suburb of Rivers State, was accosted by some vigilante group members at Aromi and some of the travelers, who found in possession of locally
made Dane guns, were arrested. While this was ongoing, some vigilante members raised an alarm of them being suspected kidnappers, which led some members and passes be in the community to attack and lynch sixteen sixteen of the occupants while
the truck conveying them was equally burnt. Police operatives attached to the Aromi Division got wind of the incident and swiftly stormed the scene, where ten of the travelers were rescued two two of whom sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to a hospital where they are currently
positively responding to treatment. In the course of investigations, fourteen fourteen suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime, while an emergency meeting was convened with stakeholders and members of the community to address the situation. In the meantime, a unit of police Mobile Force personnel with other command tactical teams have been deployed to the area to forestall
breakdown of law and order. While the Commissioner of Police reiterates the need for peaceful coexistence among various groups and urges residents to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue. She also cautioned against any form of reprisal attacks or unlawful gatherings that may further escalate tensions.
The Edo State Police Command statement ends. The Benin Solidarity Movement BSM Worldwide has condemned the bearing of firearms by the travelers while condemning the jungle justice melted on them. The group, in a statement signed by Curtis Ego so Bugbo and oss and Ossahai good Luck, President and Secretary of the Benin Solidarity Movement BSM Worldwide, made available to newsmen in Benine's city, said that there are so many
questions to be asked. According to the group, those who are supporting the action of the travelers apprehended at Aromi should tell the whole world why they were bearing arms and entering Aromi with arms, whether the action of the gunmen is not a premeditated plan to invade a Romi
and its neighboring communities. They also urged the supporters of the gunman weather Dangotte trucks conveying the gunmen is a passenger vehicle also let them explain whether Southerners living in the northern part of the country can carry firearms illegally. Why did they refuse to submit themselves to search when the vigilantes wanted to search them, but rather stabbed one of the vigilantes instead of submitting to the search. Why
were they carrying arms into Aromi? What is the guarantee that they were not coming to invade Romi and other communities in Edo State? While calling on the politicians whom they alleged to be supporters of the gunmen, to refrain
from making inflammatory statements. They called on the security agencies to investigate the alleged supporters of the gunmen accosted at Aromi with a view to determining their involvement or collaboration with kidnappers and bandits that are now invading communities in Edo's state, and called on a Romi people to be vigilant as some unscrupulous elements may want to invade the
community under the guise of reprisal. We had reported that the men of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a twenty seven years old man who Dama were for killing and cutting off the head of a forty three years old man a doob or Lawrence, who live in the same Ebutubu quarters with him when the victim was returning
from bury old ceremony at one o'clock midnight. According to the state owned television station Heado Broadcasting Service EBS, for the purpose of money ritual which Luck ran against him. When police and vigilante members on patrol intercepted him, he ran abandoning the polythene bag containing the fresh human head and he was subsequently arrested after the security operatives gave
him a chase. We have reported that another set of Edo farmers named Lucky Salami and Julius Aroa have been maketed to death at Eware community in the Hetsaco West local government area of Edo State by attacks the villages suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, days after suspected herders killed other farmers in the state and Era Heguary Opekpe among others, with the kinsmen of the current senator representing Edo North who was once the governor of the state, Comrade Adams
Oshio Mold calling on the government to rescue them from Fulani herdsmen they claimed irresponsible for the frequent attacks both on lives and the destructions of their farm lands in the Edo North Senatorial District often known as a Femi land.
We had reported that the Edo State Governor, Monday og Pepolo has blamed militants and herders over the killing of twenty four persons in Meidote Bellamonte, among other five villages in the Ovia South West Local government area and Ogpekpey in the Edsaco East Local government area of Edo State. Says he has deployed more troops to the affected communities
with aide. News media showed on the spat assessment video footage of some residents fleeing the communities as Another report indicated that a little boy was also killed on Friday at eguarey Arua in the Essen Central Local government area
of the state. We had reported that the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obosseki, has sent some words of sympathy to the people of Oppekpe community in the Etsaco East Local government area of Edo State following the killing of two persons batimw Philippe Kamo and Christopher Bellow by suspected herdsman on Monday, calling on the state Governor Monday Okpepolo and other authorities responsible for the security of the state to act swiftly, just as the Council Chairperson
in charge of the local government, benedicta Atta, raised alarm that if the state government fails to act fast, the entire north Immy people may be wiped out by the suspected Fulani herders. With another report of the head of the vigilante group in Era community in the Owen East Local government area of the state, Victor Ojendibay, also killed
in cold blood by attackers suspected to be Fulani herdsman. Previously, we reported that the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the killing of seven persons on Friday during a communal clash between the people of Bellamonte and meido Te communities in the Ovia South West Local government of Edo State, with the police also arresting a member of the Edo State Vigilante Group who shot dead and set ablaze a victim he falsely accused of being
a thief out of malice due to misunderstanding the vigilante member had with the deceased. Just as the new Commissioner of Police a Neck Panotomenian subjects police personnel in the state to RETRAININGI quindi nimoigical