Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
In a similar event that happened in Cameroon where three men were mistaken to be members of the Boko Haram sect and burnt to the death, some Northerners were equally burnt to death due to mistaken identity. The incident occurred in the Udune Efandion village, Uromi, Edo State when a party of Northern travelers from Port Harcourt traveling to Kano to celebrate Sallah was accosted by security men and indigenous vigilantes and subsequently killed due to mistaken identity since they were found to be carrying hunter guns. According to reports, the security agents raised an alarm, followed by a crowd that turned violent in no time. The travelers’ vehicle was set ablaze, and a number of individuals were trapped in it. Other individuals who attempted to escape were reportedly arrested, placed in wheelbarrows, and pushed into the fire. Police officers responding to a call for help at the location were to find out that the work had already been done.
The authorities confirmed that four survivors were rescued and evacuated to His Grace Hospital in Uromi for immediate treatment. In connection with the accident, five suspects have been arrested as investigations are still ongoing.
Reactions to the attack have been swift and extensive. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso both condemned the extrajudicial killings and called for justice. In a statement, Atiku described the act as “barbaric and unacceptable,” urging authorities to make sure that those responsible are brought to book.
This incident has once more raised insecurity and ethnic tensions fears in Nigeria. Experts have warned that fear-driven actions and misinformation can lead to unnecessary loss of innocent lives. The Edo State government has promised a thorough investigation and that justice will be served.
