Uromi Mobs: Amnesty, CISLAC Demand Justice over Lynching of 16 Northerners Traveling for Sallah

Uromi Mobs: Amnesty, CISLAC Demand Justice over Lynching of 16 Northerners Traveling for Sallah

Amnesty International and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the gruesome lynching of at least 16 Northern travelers in Uromi, Edo State, where vigilantes and armed youths allegedly blocked their vehicle, dragged them out one by one, and set them ablaze.

According to the human rights ogroups the victims were hunters traveling from Rivers State to Kano for the Eid Sallah elebrations when they were attacked. Disturbing videos of the incident, which have since gone viral, show the victims pleading for their lives while a cheering crowd watched as vigilantes used axes, iron rods, and machetes against them. They were reportedly tied to used tires, doused in petrol, and set on fire.

Amnesty International strongly condemned the attack, urging Nigerian authorities to go beyond mere condemnation and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted in a fair trial. The organization criticized the government’s consistent failure to punish mob violence, which has emboldened vigilantes to act with impunity.

“The horrific mob violence at Uromi is part of a rising trend of vigilante groups unlawfully blocking highways and carrying out attacks with no consequences,” Amnesty International stated. “The failure of authorities to investigate and prosecute such cases highlights a shocking disregard for their duty to protect citizens from harm.”

The group called on the Nigerian government to implement effective measures to prevent further cases of mob violence and ensure justice for victims. It also urged security agencies, particularly the police, to be adequately equipped to respond to such incidents and protect innocent lives.

In a statement, CISLAC condemned the brutal lynching of the 16 Northern travelers, calling for a swift and transparent investigation into the killings.

According to a statement signed by CISLAC’s Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the victims—hunters from Rivers State en route to Kano for the Eid celebration—were intercepted by a vigilante group and armed youths. They were reportedly beaten, tied to petrol-soaked tires, and burned alive in a gruesome mob attack.

Viral videos of the incident show the victims pleading for mercy as they were attacked with machetes, iron rods, and axes while onlookers cheered and made no attempt to intervene.

“This horrific act of mob violence reflects a disturbing rise in vigilante justice and a growing disregard for human life in Nigeria,” the statement read.

CISLAC called on the Nigerian government to launch an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation to ensure that all those responsible—including any complicit law enforcement officers—are brought to justice. The organization stressed that failure to act would further entrench a culture of impunity.

“Under international law, the Nigerian government has an unequivocal obligation to protect its citizens, safeguard their right to life, and shield them from torture and other inhumane treatment,” Rafsanjani stated. “The failure to uphold these duties sends a dangerous message that emboldens vigilantes and mobs.”

CISLAC urged President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Monday Okpebholo, to publicly condemn the killings and take concrete steps to ensure justice for the victims.

The group noted that the Uromi attack is part of a growing trend of vigilante violence across Nigeria, particularly in highway communities where citizens feel increasingly vulnerable. It attributed the rise in mob justice to government inaction and the failure to prosecute past incidents.

To curb the tide of such brutality, CISLAC called on the Nigerian government to equip law enforcement agencies adequately, ensure access to justice for victims, and implement both punitive and preventive measures to restore the rule of law.

“The sanctity of human life must be upheld,” the statement concluded.

By PRNigeria