Burned Alive for Hunting? Shocking Mob Justice in Edo State Sparks National Outrage!

A horrifying act of mob violence has sent shockwaves across Nigeria, as 16 northern travelers, identified as hunters, were brutally killed and set ablaze in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, on March 28, 2025.

The gruesome incident, now widely condemned as “jungle justice,” has ignited a firestorm of outrage, with President Bola Tinubu, Governor Monday Okpebholo, and human rights groups demanding swift justice for the victims.

Shocking Mob Justice in Edo State Sparks National Outrage!

The tragedy unfolded when the travelers, reportedly en route from Port Harcourt to Kano to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, were intercepted by local vigilantes and the Edo State Security Corps.

A search of their commercial truck revealed dane guns and cutlasses—traditional hunting tools—which the vigilantes mistook as evidence of kidnapping. Without due process, a frenzied mob descended on the group, beating some to death and burning others alive.

Images circulating on X show a chaotic scene: thick black smoke billowing from burning vehicles, a crowd of onlookers, and individuals marked as suspects in the violence, some holding sticks and other makeshift weapons.

The X post by user @zaMusbeyNe_, which has garnered significant attention, includes chilling visuals of the aftermath, with one image highlighting a man in a blue cap standing near a burning truck, and another showing a woman in pink seemingly involved in the mob action.

The post demands justice, stating, “These cr!minals must pay for their satanic, barbaric, and inhumane deeds,” and urges users to keep retweeting to amplify the call.

President Tinubu swiftly condemned the killings, emphasizing that “jungle justice has no place in Nigeria” and ordering security agencies to crack down on the perpetrators.

“All Nigerians have the freedom to move freely in any part of the country,” he stated, while commiserating with the victims’ families. Governor Okpebholo echoed this sentiment, describing the act as “barbaric and unacceptable” and confirming that four suspects have been arrested, with 14 more detained as of March 29, according to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The incident has reignited debates over mob violence in Nigeria, a growing issue that Amnesty International has long criticized. In a recent report, the organization noted that between 2012 and 2023, at least 555 victims suffered from mob violence across the country, often fueled by weak law enforcement and a lack of accountability.

“The failure of authorities to protect lives is empowering mobs to kill,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, calling for a thorough investigation into the Uromi killings.

Public reaction on X has been intense, with users like @Ahmedmusa718 lamenting the loss of humanity, writing, “How did we get here? Innocent travelers unalived in Edo State. #EveryLifeMatters.” Others, like @DanielRegha, labeled the killings as “genocide” and an act of discrimination against northerners, while @PeterObi stressed the need for enhanced security measures to prevent such tragedies.

As the investigation unfolds, with the Nigeria Police Force deploying operatives to restore order and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police overseeing the case, Nigerians are left grappling with a stark reality: the rising tide of mob justice threatens the very fabric of the nation. Will justice be served for the 16 lives lost, or will this tragedy become another grim statistic in Nigeria’s struggle with lawlessness?

Burned Alive for Hunting? Shocking Mob Justice in Edo State Sparks National Outrage!

Shocking Mob Justice in Edo State Sparks National Outrage!

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