Uromi Killings: Group Accuses Herdsmen of Waging War Against Edo People, Condemns Bearing of Arms

Hendrix Oliomogbe 

A socio- cultural group, Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) Worldwide has vehemently condemned the bearing ofg firearms by alleged Fulani men who were recently lynched at Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

BSM Worldwide condemned the jungle justice meted out to the cattlemen, but however faulted the action of some failed politicians who want to politicise an issue that, it insisted, is strictly a security matter.

In a joint statement by the president Elder Curtis Ugbo and the secretary, Comrade Osayande Goodluck and made available to newsmen in Benin City, the group stated that there are so many questions begging to be answered.

Ugbo and Goodluck challenged those supporting the action of the Fulani gunmen apprehended at Uromi to tell the whole world why they were bearing  arms in the first instance and entering Uromi with arms.

Besides, the president and the scribe demanded to know whether the action of the gunmen is not a premeditated plan to invade Uromi and its neighbouring communities.

They also want the supporters of the gunmen to tell whether the Dangote trucks that conveyed the gunmen are passenger vehicles or not.

They queried: "Why did they refuse to submit themselves for search when the vigilantes wanted to search them, but rather stabbed one of the vigilantes instead of submitting to the search? 

"Why were they carrying arms into Uromi? What is the guarantee that they were not coming to invade Uromi and other communities in Edo State?"

Ugbo and Goodluck continued: "Also, they should explain whether Southerners living in the Northern part of the country can carry firearms illegally."

While calling on politicians who they accused of supporting the gunmen to refrain from making inflammatory statements, the group  called on the different security agencies to immediately investigate the activities of the alleged collaborators of the gunmen accosted at Uromi with a view to determining the extent of their involvement with kidnappers and bandits that regularly terrorize peaceful Edo communities.

BSM advised Uromi and other Edo people to be vigilant as some unscrupulous elements may want to invade the community and launch punitive operation in solidarity with their deceased kinsmen.