By The Edo State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects linked to the brutal killing of 16 travelers and the burning of their truck on Thursday at Udune Efandion along the Uromi/Obajana Expressway.
Confirming the arrests in a statement on Saturday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) CSP Moses Yamu condemned the killings and assured that justice would be served. He emphasized that investigations were ongoing and that no stone would be left unturned.
Yamu explained that a vigilante group intercepted a truck carrying 25 travelers from Elele, Rivers State, during a routine stop-and-search in Uromi. Some of the travelers were found with locally made dane guns, raising suspicion among the vigilantes.
An alarm was raised, labeling the travelers as suspected kidnappers, which led to an attack by community members and passersby. Sixteen people were lynched, and their truck was set ablaze before police intervened.
Officers from the Uromi Division managed to rescue ten travelers, two of whom sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment. In response, police have deployed additional tactical teams to maintain order in the area.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Otimenyin, has urged residents to remain calm, avoid reprisals, and cooperate with authorities to prevent further violence.
