The Uromi killing happened barely six months since the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo came on board amidst charting a road map to curb insecurity. Patrick Ochoga writes.
Pen-ultimate week, Uromi the administrative Headquarters of Esan North Local Government Area of Edo state brought Edo state on the global map for the wrong reason following the gruesome massacre of 16 suspected hunters who were lynched on the suspicious that they were kidnappers terrorising parts of the state.
Edo State known for it rich cultural heritage and destination to tourists and other visitors alike seems to losing it glory owing to security concerns just like many other states of the federation.
The Uromi no doubt heightened tension in the state as palpable fear of reprisal attack enveloped the air within Uromi and other surrounding communities.
Killer herders over the years have laid siege on farmlands in Edo state where they kidnap farmers, rape women, maimed and killed after collecting huge sum of ransom money from their victims, the development has made many farmers to abandon their farm land for fear kidnapped by marauding killer Herdsmen.
The Uromi killing sparked nationwide outrage among Nigerians, Northern leaders and other groups calling for proper investigation and subsequent prosecution of the culprits.
Expectedly, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP criticised the governor for the rising spate of kidnapping and other form of criminality in the state.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP Chris Nehikhare had accused the APC led administration of lack of coherent security framework and concluded that the Okpebholo’s led government has lost control in tackling the insecurity challenges in the state.
The party while buttressing it position on the security crisis said, “The suspension of the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, CP. Friday Ibadin (Rtd), is a clear admission by the government that the security architecture of the state has failed.
“The February 5 mutiny by members of the Edo Security Corps was an early warning sign of deep-rooted inefficiencies, yet Senator Monday Okpebholo chose to ignore it. Now, Edo people are paying the price with their lives.
The party further added, “It is particularly distressing that a vigilante group, operating without any oversight or proper registration, was allowed to take up arms and engage in extra-judicial killings. This is an indictment of the Okpebholo administration’s failure to properly regulate, train, and coordinate security efforts in the state.
The PDP however suggested some quick fix measures it believes would lead to the restoration of security and prevent further loss of lives and listed among others that “a Comprehensive Audit and Overhaul of the Edo State Security Corps: The security structure must be reviewed to eliminate unregistered groups and ensure accountability in operations.
“The immediate Arrest and Prosecution of All Perpetrators; The government must ensure that all those responsible for the Uromi killings, including their sponsors, face the full weight of the law.
“Deployment of Federal Security Agencies: Given the state government’s apparent inability to maintain law and order, federal intervention is now necessary to stabilize the situation” among other solutions.
But rising to the sad Uromi incident, Governor Monday Okpebholo on hearing the news of the Uromi massacre was said to have to cut short his trip to the nation’s capital and drove by road to the scene of the incident where he condemned in strong terms the heinous murders of the suspected hunters.
The visibly disturbed Governor addressed Hausa community in Uromi and described the killing as barbaric and promised to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
In a bid to assuage frail nerves and sympathize with the family of the victims, Okpebholo subsequently visited the government and people of Kano state where the victims came from. The visit had calm nerves as the Okpebholo in Kano demonstrated the Edo State government commitment to ensure that justice will be done including paying compensation for the family of the victims.
As a build up to the resolution of the tensed situation, last week, a high powered fact finding delegation from Kano state led by the Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo visited Edo State. The meeting was at the instance of the Federal and Edo state government to chart a path towards unraveling the circumstances surrounding the recent Uromi killings.
At the meeting Okpebholo has expressed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu displeasure over the Uromi killing adding that Tinubu is determined to ensure the State and nation are safe for everybody to live and do business.
“This incident has opened our eyes and we are ready to address a lot of issues about the country and how to make life better for us all. The president is not happy with what has happened and he wants us to see to the end of this dastardly act.
“The President personally wants to see to the end of this issue. I want to also let you know that the President and Edo State Government have set up a committee to find out the remote cause(s) of the incident and put a lasting solution to the issue.
“This report you have submitted will actually help us so that we do not have to worry you. A lot will be done and made open to the public to know what the committee is doing on the issue.
“We are a peace-loving people in Edo State. We love those living with us in the State. Kano and Edo State have been collaborating in the area of commerce and industry,” he stated.
The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo appreciated Governor Okpebholo for his earlier visit to Kano.
He noted that the delegation was in Edo State to thank the Governor for the peaceful steps he took when he came to Kano State in regards to the Uromi incident.
“The Governor of Kano State set up a Committee to screen and verify, to establish the names, numbers, next of kin and those who survived the attack. We have been able to carry out these activities and we have come out with a report which we are here to submit to your Excellency.
“You promised us that justice will be done and we believe you on this Mr. Governor. We need a transparent process on this issue. Sixteen persons lost their dear lives from five local government areas of Kano State,” he explained.
Present during the visit were the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Speaker Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Blessing Agbebaku; security heads in the State, senior government officials, both from Kano and Edo State, among others.
Governor Okpebholo and the delegation from Kano also visited Uromi, where they met with members of Hausa Community in the area.
Okpebholo Moves To Curb Insecurity
Less than two months on assumption of office Governor Monday Okpebholo did not hesitate and signed the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025 into law, stipulating death sentence for cult members whose acts cause the death of others and a 21-year jail term for their sponsors.
The governors bold step underscores his determination in ensure peace security in the state came at a time when the deadly activities of cult groups in the state take the lives of many Edo citizen thereby making Edo state unsafe for visitors and investors alike.
The secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhllor, had disclosed that decision by the governor to take the bold step by repealing the old law was to provide for a stiffer punishment for cultists and their sponsors.
He urged the public to be guided and desist from acts inimical to the peace, growth and development of the state.
Portion of the statement reads, “It is hereby announced for the information of the public that the Edo State Secret Cult (Prohibition Law) 2018 has been repealed by the Edo State House of Assembly.
“By virtue of the repeal, the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025 has been passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and signed into Law by the Governor of the State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo effective from 24 January, 2025.
“Please, be informed that in the new law, there is provision for stiffer penalties for anyone found guilty of secret cult related offences in the state.
“Section 5 of the Law provides for twenty-one (21) years imprisonment for financial and material sponsors of secret cults. Also, the Section 6 of the law provides for 10 years imprisonment for those who knowingly habour members of a secret cult or permit a secret cult meeting or activities to be held in house, building or place over which they have control.”
The statement said that in addition to the 10 years imprisonment for those who harbour cult members, such persons would have their properties confiscated and demolished by the State Government.
He added, “Section 12 of the Law clearly states that, ‘Any person being a cultist under Section 4, who assaults, injures, maims, or kills any person (s) or destroy any property in furtherance of the activities of any secret cult, is guilty of an offence and is liable to 21 years imprisonment without an option of fine and in the case of any fatality, the perpetrator(s) shall be liable to death upon conviction and any properties in his name as well as his place of residence shall be confiscated and demolished by the State Government
“The general public is, by this notice, advised to be guided and desist from acts inimical to the peace, growth and development of Edo State.”The action of the Governor led to drastic reduction in cult -related killing and clashes as against what was obtainable in the state where cultists in brought day hacked down their rival members in broad day light in addition to the deployment of Tactical team across the state to tackle the incident of Kidnapping.
In his attempt to chart a security road map, Okpbeholo on his 100 days in office procured several brand-new Toyota Hilux vehicles for various Security Agencies in Edo State to enhance security operations in the State.
Observers described the governor’s intervention as a deliberate effort to tackle holistically the challenges of insecurity in the state, by the provision one thousand high functional motorcycles and vehicles presented to security agencies for security operation, bush combing and tactical pursuit of kidnappers and other criminals.
Okpebholo also Procured one thousand high functional motorcycles and vehicles which have been presented to the security agencies for security operation, bush combing and tactical pursuit of kidnappers and other criminals.
To further bolster his determination in addressing the insecurity challenges Okpebholo at a stakeholders meeting with Arewa community in Uromi had threatened that kidnappers caught in the state will face death penalty and expressed his readiness to sign the death warrants of convict in the State.
