Kano CSOs appeal for calm over killing of 16 travellers in Edo
The League of Civil Society Organisations in Kano State has appealed for calm among the Hausa community in Kano, Edo states and other parts of the country, urging them not to retaliate the alleged extra-judicial killing of 16 northern travellers in Edo State on March 27, 2025.
In a statement on Saturday by the League Convener, Bala Abdullahi Gaduwama, and made available to Arewa Punch on Saturday urged members of the Hausa community to exercise restraint and remain calm, adding “Violence will only worsen the already dire situation.”
However, the League expressed shock and dismay over the incident, describing it as “barbaric” and “a gross violation of human rights.”
According to the statement, instead of alerting the police or other security agencies, the vigilantes allegedly raised a false alarm, which incited a mob attack on the travellers.
“The sight of travellers carrying hunting dane guns, a common tool in the North, should not have been misinterpreted as a threat by a trained security outfit,” the statement read.
“This tragic event is a clear reflection of the dangerous rise in mob justice in parts of Nigeria.”
The League called for a thorough investigation into the killings to ensure that all those responsible were brought to justice.
It also urged the Federal Government to expedite compensation for the victims’ families to alleviate their hardship.
The statement was endorsed by prominent civil society organisations that included the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Centre for Information Technology and Development, and the Nigerian Bar Association, among others.
The League further called on national and international human rights organisations to ensure the case is not ignored, emphasising that freedom of movement is a constitutional right that must be protected across Nigeria.
Efforts to contact the state Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, proved abortive as he neither picked up the several phone calls nor replied to the WhatsApp message sent to his phone by our correspondent.
