Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday, paid a condolence visit to his Kano State counterpart, Abba Yusuf, following the killing of 16 Kano-bound travelers last Friday.
Okpebholo arrived at the Kano State Government House at noon, where he was received by Yusuf and other government officials.
The 16 victims were killed in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, by members of a vigilante group who reportedly mistook them for criminals. The travelers, said to be hunters, were journeying from Port Harcourt to Kano for Eid-el-Fitr celebrations when the tragic incident occurred.
During the visit, Okpebholo expressed his deep sorrow over the incident, acknowledging the long-standing cordial relationship between the Hausa community and the people of Edo. He assured the people of Kano that justice would be served, revealing that 14 suspects had already been arrested and transferred to Abuja for interrogation.
Governor Yusuf, in response, insisted that those responsible for the killings must be publicly paraded, emphasizing Kano’s reputation as the most peaceful state in the North, which accommodates people from various backgrounds. He appreciated Okpebholo’s swift visit and called for the immediate prosecution of the perpetrators to ensure justice.
Both governors stressed the need for peaceful coexistence and later visited Toronkawa village in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with President Bola Tinubu directing security agencies to ensure those behind the killings are brought to justice.
“The President, who expressed shock at the dastardly act on Thursday, directed Police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Friday.