Edo State Police Command, on Friday, said 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of seven suspected kidnappers in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of the State.
Spokesperson of the Command, Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Friday.
Yamu, who confirmed the incident, said the command condemned the killing of the victims who were travellers.
He said 16 of the 25 travellers from Port-Harcourt were attacked at Udune Efandion Community, along Uromi/Obajana Expressway, Edo State, on 27th March, 2025.
He said out of the 16 of the travellers, 10 were rescued while two who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to hospital where they are currently positively responding to treatment.
“The incident occurred when the truck with registration number KKF 225 XA coming from Port Harcourt, conveying 25 travellers from Elele, a suburb of Rivers State, was accosted by some vigilante group members at Uromi, and some of the travelers 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 passersby in the community to attack and lynch sixteen (16) of the occupants while the truck conveying them was equally burnt.
“Police operatives attached to the Uromi Division got wind of the incident and swiftly stormed the scene where ten (10) of the travelers were rescued, two (2) 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 (14) 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,” he said.
Yamu added that 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.
He said the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Betty Enekpen Isokpan, while reiterating the need for peaceful coexistence among various groups, however, urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continued.
He said the commissioner also cautioned against any form of reprisal attacks or unlawful gatherings that may further escalate tensions. – DP
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