A mob in southern Nigeria has killed 16 people, accusing them of kidnapping. The victims, hailing from the northern part of the country, were attacked in the Uromi area of Edo State.
Local security personnel had stopped the group of travelers for a routine search. Authorities discovered locally made weapons in their vehicle, which sparked the violent assault.
The mob brutally beat the suspects before setting them on fire with old vehicle tires. Disturbing videos shared online show the horrifying scenes of violence.
This act of mob justice comes amid rising incidents of vigilante violence across Nigeria. Mob attacks in southern Nigeria are often linked to accusations of theft or witchcraft, while the north sees violence over alleged blasphemy.
The Edo State Police have arrested 14 individuals connected to the killings. Two people who survived the attack remain hospitalized.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, condemned the violence, promising that the perpetrators would face full legal consequences. “Nobody has the right to take another man’s life,” he declared.
The attack has sparked outrage on social media, with many politicians, particularly from the north, denouncing the killings.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy in 2012 when four university students were lynched after being wrongfully accused of robbery, leading to widespread protests and public outcry over Nigeria’s justice system.