The president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has expressed shock over the gruesome killings of 16 Northern travelers in Udune Efandion, an Uromi community in Esan North Local Government, Edo State; and commiserated with the families of the deceased. The victims, who were returning from Rivers State en route to Kano State, were gruesomely murdered by a mob on the suspicion of being criminals. The travellers were said to be hunters.

Narrating how the incident happened, the Edo Police Command said it occurred when a “truck with registration number KKF 225 XA coming from Port Harcourt, conveying 25 travellers from Elele, a suburb of Rivers State, was accosted by some vigilante group members at Uromi, and some of the travelers who found in possession of locally made dane guns were arrested”.

The Northern Senators Forum said it is “deeply disturbed and saddened” by the lynching of the travellers.

An Islamic group, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has also strongly condemned the dastardly act, describing it as “cruel and barbaric.”

This has caused a nationwide outrage online and offline. Here are some comments from X users:

@Mbahdeyforyou: We should all come out to condemn the brutal killing of those 16 Northern travelers in Edo state. It was painful to watch those videos💔

@MasterMaliq: For the first time in a long time, the North is united in condemning murder and jungle justice. Even known extrem!sts and "influenza" have suddenly discovered the value of human life. They are outraged over the horrific jungle justice inflicted on Hausa in Edo State. I love this, but will this outrage remain when the victim is a non-Muslim? Or is the worth of a life measured by who is being k!lled?

@alijitaa: What happened in Edo state is not just a crime against Hausa people but a crime against humanity,the brutal killing of 16 Hausa hunters travelers is disturbing,we demand justice now

@OfficialEdoOsasB: Have you ever seen an Edo man carrying any type of weapon and heading toward the North to hunt?

@The_Vyrus: Suddenly, the North is against Mob Killings and Jungle Justice. SUDDENLY!!!

The president, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy: Bayo Onanuga, has directed police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations, and punish the suspected culprits. Tinubu noted that all Nigerians have the freedom to move freely in any part of the country and jungle justice has no place in Nigeria.