The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended two principal suspects linked to the gruesome killing of 16 Nigerians of northern extraction in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The arrests, executed last week, have intensified security concerns in the state as authorities work to unravel the full extent of the crime.
According to Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the DSS operatives acted on credible intelligence to track down and detain the suspects in Uromi.
“Security forces, led by the DSS, have successfully arrested two key suspects in connection with the tragic killings in Uromi. The operation was carried out based on precise intelligence, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals linked to the heinous crime,” Itua disclosed.
The suspects have since been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation and prosecution by relevant security agencies. This move, sources say, is aimed at ensuring a thorough and unbiased investigation into the killings, which have sparked widespread outrage across the country.
Amid the unfolding security developments, discussions regarding compensation for the bereaved families remain ongoing. Governor Okpebholo has been in contact with the Kano State government, considering various forms of support for the victims’ relatives.
“The Governor has personally visited the families of the 16 victims and assured them of compensation,” Itua affirmed. “However, the exact nature of the compensation—whether financial or otherwise—is yet to be finalized.”
The arrest of the suspects has triggered panic among Uromi residents, with reports emerging that many locals are abandoning their homes for fear of being caught up in the security clampdown.
“The atmosphere in Uromi is tense. People are scared of being wrongfully accused or getting caught in the security operations,” a local source revealed. “Many have decided to relocate temporarily until the situation normalizes.”
As security agencies tighten their grip on the investigation, the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused opposition parties of exploiting the situation to instigate unrest.
Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, alleged that certain political leaders were orchestrating a crisis in a desperate bid to force President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state.
“It has come to our attention that some opposition figures, along with their collaborators, are fueling chaos in Edo,” Tenebe stated during a press briefing in Abuja. “Their ultimate goal is to create instability and discredit the government ahead of the tribunal’s ruling.”
The allegations come as the Edo Election Petition Tribunal is set to deliver its judgment on Wednesday in the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
With security forces intensifying their crackdown on suspected perpetrators of the Uromi massacre, Edo State remains on edge. The combination of heightened political tensions and security concerns has created a volatile atmosphere, with many anxiously awaiting both the tribunal verdict and further developments in the DSS-led investigation.
Observers say the coming days will be critical in determining not just the fate of the arrested suspects but also the broader political stability of the state as it navigates these turbulent times.
PIONEER NEWS 