Sunday, March 30, 2025 - The remains of the slain northern travellers in Uromi Edo State have been laid to rest, amid heavy tears on Saturday.
A now viral video of the funeral rites posted on X by a
security analyst, Zagazola Makama showed the moment the victims were buried.
The video vividly captured members of the Hausa community in
a solemn mood as the wrapped corpses were placed besides large graves.
The man filming the burial, who spoke in Hausa, in an
agonising voice said, “Assalamualaikum, this time we will pray for the bodies
of our brothers who were killed for us—those who were massacred. May God bless
them with mercy, forgive them, and accept their martyrdom for the sake of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
“Here is the Muslim community; they have gathered now and
will be offering funeral prayers for our brothers who were killed. Now, we will
offer the prayer for them.”
Also, an imam subsequently began praying on the bodies,
marking the commencement of the rites.
The man behind the filming revealed that the death toll had
increased to 19.
“Remember yesterday (Friday): the bodies of three people
were brought to us, and we were able to pray for them. But now, 16 more corpses
have also been brought, and we will pray for them. May God Almighty forgive
them.
“Look at their graves here. Because there are so many of
them, it is not possible to dig individual graves for each one. Instead, they
will be buried together in one place,” he stated.
One of the mothers of the murdered travellers sobbed, “My
son was not a kidnapper! He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!”
He also said a father held to the photograph of his slain
son.
Meanwhile, the Ojuromi of Uromi, Anselm Aidenojie II, who
visited the Hausa community alongside Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo,
during the burial, condemned the killings, noting that security agencies were
taking measures to avert reprisals.
Aidenojie stressed that those responsible for the killings
would be brought to justice.
“They (the victims) have been buried, and hopefully, this
will never happen again in our community or anywhere else,” he added.
Gov Okpebholo consequently ordered the suspension of all
vigilante groups in the state.
Earlier, the
Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, in a statement, had said 14
suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
Northern
governors urge against reprisals
Amid the
development, Northern governors have moved to avert reprisal attack on Uromi
community over the unfortunate killing.
The
Director-General (Press Affairs) to the NGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe
State, Ismaila Misili, said, “Let me unequivocally state that there is no
tension in the North over the unfortunate incident in Edo State.
“Recall that
northern governors, through their chairman and governor of Gombe State,
Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, had already issued a statement calling for calm and
restraint.
“Individual
governors in the North have also proactively engaged with relevant stakeholders
to ensure peace, especially ahead of the Eid el-Fitr celebration”.
on Saturday that the
Northern Elders Forum made three demands and gave an ultimatum to the Edo and
the Federal Governments over the mob killing.
The murdered
travellers were on a trip to Kano from Port Harcourt for the Sallah celebration
before meeting their tragic end.
Earlier,
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed security agencies to hunt for the
perpetrators of the mob killing.
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