By Emmanuel Obugandu
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has demanded compensation for the 16 travellers killéd in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The victims who were journeying to the North for the Eid – El – fitr celebration from Elele in Rivers State, are largely of Kano extraction.
A mob had reportedly intercepted the truck conveying them, ransacked it, gruésomely mùrdered them and set their remains ablaze on Thursday.
Yusuf also demanded that the arrested perpetrators must be paraded for Nigerians, especially the bereaved families, to see them.
He insisted they must also be taken to court and punished according to the law.
The Governor made the demands when his Edo State colleague, Senator Monday Okpebholo paid a condolence visit over the killing of the travellers in Udune Efandion, a community in Uromi.
“It is a known fact that our people were coming from Port Harcourt when the unfortunate thing happened. They were gruesomely kìlled; many of them were burnt to ashes. Majority of them are from Kano, from two local government areas,” Yusuf said.
He however commended Governor Okpebholo and President Bola Tinubu for the swift decisions they took in ordering security personnel to go after the perpetrators while commiserating with families of the slain travellers to dose tensions.
The Edo Governor, who was received at the Ante Chamber of Government House Kano, assured t“the perpetrators must be brought to book.”
He also pledged to assist the families of the victims.
Okpebholo informed 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings and assured they will be taken to Abuja for interrogation and prosecution.
