The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), has strongly condemned the gruesome lynching of traveling hunters in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The victims, reportedly en route from Port Harcourt, were intercepted in Uromi, accused of criminal activity, and violently killed—allegedly by vigilante groups who raised an alarm upon discovering the travelers were armed. Their vehicle was also set ablaze.
In a late-night statement on Friday, Osigwe denounced the rising trend of vigilante justice, stressing that such actions undermine the rule of law and erode trust in the country’s justice system.
“It is deeply troubling that mobs continue to take the law into their hands, attacking and lynching suspected criminals, often without law enforcement intervention,” Osigwe stated. “No individual, regardless of any allegations, should be subjected to such brutality. Every accused person has the right to due process. If mob justice persists, it will only further portray Nigeria as a nation where lawlessness reigns.”
Calling for swift action, the NBA president urged security agencies to ensure the perpetrators face justice, warning that failure to do so would embolden further acts of jungle justice.
“This tragic incident must serve as a wake-up call for law enforcement. Justice must prevail, and those responsible must be held accountable to prevent future occurrences,” he emphasized.
Osigwe further called on the Edo State Government and relevant security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the Uromi killings, stressing that vigilante justice has no place in a law-abiding society.
Expressing his condolences, he added, “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims. May their souls rest in peace.”