The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, has assured that Northerners living in Edo State remain safe and are peacefully pursuing their legitimate businesses despite the recent killing of 16 hunters at Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area.
Gwarzo gave the assurance on Friday while addressing journalists shortly after returning from Edo State, where he led a high-powered Kano State Government delegation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killings.
“From the mammoth crowd of Northerners and people of Edo State that received us at Uromi and Benin, and the expressions we saw on their faces, it is clear that Northerners there are very much comfortable, very much at home, feeling very safe,” Gwarzo said.
The Deputy Governor, who chairs the Kano State investigation committee, noted that the delegation’s visit was a follow-up to an earlier condolence visit by Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State to Kano.
Governor Okpebholo had visited Bunkure and Toronkawa communities to condole with the families of the slain hunters.
He described the reception in Edo as overwhelming and peaceful, stating that, “It took us almost two hours to reach Uromi from Benin. There was a huge crowd waiting for us, both indigenous people and Northerners living and working in Uromi. What we have seen is really encouraging.”
Gwarzo said the leadership in Edo State political, traditional, and religious unanimously condemned the killings in strong terms and vowed to ensure justice for the victims.
“There is leadership there. Political leadership has rejected and condemned this obnoxious act, this very tragic incident. The traditional leadership was so outspoken and vocal. The religious leadership also condemned the heinous incident,” he said.
He added that Governor Okpebholo had taken firm steps to ensure such a tragedy does not happen again. “The governor has disbanded the vigilance group, and the key figures that perpetrated the dastardly act have been arrested. More arrests are expected as some suspects are still on the run.”
According to the Deputy Governor, security operatives including the police and Department of State Services (DSS) are intensifying efforts to apprehend all those involved.
Gwarzo said Kano State Government’s primary concern remains justice and compensation for the families of the victims.
“All we need is justice, and justice must be seen to be done. They have told us that they have arrested a number of people about 14. That’s a good step forward.”
He also revealed that Governor Okpebholo promised that the victims’ families would be compensated for both the loss of lives and the destruction of property, including a vehicle and goods the victims were transporting from Port Harcourt.
“The governor has assured us that there is going to be compensation for those who lost their lives and those who lost their belongings. The whole vehicle was burnt,” he added.
*Courtesy, excluding headline, Daily Post
