Paulinus Ukeki

Uromi, Edo State – In what could have been a decisive intervention of Edo State Security Corps Commander, CP Ibadin (rtd), turned out to be a race against time.

Investigation revealed that CP Ibadin made frantic effort to prevent the gruesome lynching of suspected travellers passing through Uromi. However, by the time his team arrived the scene of the incident, the situation had spiralled out of control, leaving behind a scene of horror and tragedy.

Sources who prefers anonymous revealed that CP Ibadin was leading a high-stakes operation somewhere in Irrua, where his team were combing the dense forests for criminal hideouts. The mission was aimed at flushing out kidnappers and armed gangs that had been terrorizing the area.

While carrying out the operation in the forest, iCP Ibadin received intelligence report about a violent mob action unfolding in Uromi. According to reports, a group of northern travellers who were carrying firearms in their truck were apprehended by some unprofiled local Vigilantes in Uromi who normally report daily to the Uromi Police Division (DPO) but unfortunately they couldn’t manage the situation as the irate crowd who were suspected to be non-indigenes took over the scene and took the law into their hands. The situation was escalating rapidly, and there was no immediate police intervention which was required to prevent a full-scale public execution.

Without hesitation, CP Ibadin ordered a rapid deployment of his team to Uromi. Abandoning the ongoing operation in Irrua, while he and his officers speed towards the scene of the incident, hoping to bring the situation under control.

However, upon arrival, they were met with the grim aftermath of the mob action—charred bodies and an enraged crowd still seething with anger. The suspects had already been brutally lynched and set ablaze and their fate sealed long before law enforcement could step in.

Meanwhile, further investigation revealed that the AC and DPO of Uromi Police Division was nowhere to be found in the heat of the mob actions and it was revealed later that they may have been at the capital , Benin City “Police Officers Mess, doing only what God knows while their point of duty was in deep crisis.

Eyewitnesses recounted how the mob had acted out of deep-seated fear and frustration over the growing insecurity in their communities. Despite previous reports of kidnappings, many in the community felt abandoned by the security operatives, leading to them taking the law into their own hands.

Tragically, the violence did not end with the lynching. In the chaos, one of the unprofiled Vigilante men was viciously attacked, suffering a stab wound on the hand from one of the suspected victims in a desperate act of resistance. The officer was swiftly evacuated and rushed to a medical facility for treatment and sources revealed that the Police initially refused to allow his treatment.

The attack underscored the volatility of the situation, where alleged mob justice often spirals into uncontrollable violence, endangering not just suspects but even law enforcement officers attempting to restore order.

Addressing the incident, the embattled Edo Security Boss expressed deep concern over the breakdown of law and order, emphasizing that justice must always be served through the appropriate legal channels. He warned against further acts of jungle justice, assuring the people of Edo State that security forces are intensifying efforts to combat crime and restore order.

“This is not the way to handle security challenges,” CP Ibadin (rtd) stated. “We understand the pain of the people, but mob action only creates more chaos. We are committed to ensuring that criminals face justice through the right processes.”

Meanwhile, further investigations into the lynching are underway, with authorities vowing to identify and prosecute those responsible for taking the law into their own hands. Nigerians are hopeful and will surly get justice.

As Edo State grapples with growing security concerns, the Uromi incident serves as a harsh reminder of the dangers of constant attack by bandits on their forest. The challenge now lies in restoring public trust in law enforcement before more innocents or accused individuals fall victim to the wrath of frustrated communities.