The truck driver who survived the lynching of 16 travellers from Kano State by a vigilante group in Uromi, Edo State, has given a harrowing account of the incident, firmly refuting claims of tribal motivation.
The tragic events unfolded in the early hours of Friday, as the travellers, believed to be hunters, were en route from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kano for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
In a viral video, the driver, whose name remains undisclosed, explained that he was transporting Dangote Group goods to Obajana, Kogi State, when he encountered the hunters at Elele, who requested a ride north.
“Initially, I declined to give them a ride, as it contravened my company’s policy. However, after driving approximately two kilometres, I felt remorse for leaving them stranded. After all, they were fellow Northerners from Kano State, so I returned and offered them passage,” the driver recounted.
He stated that the journey proceeded without incident until they reached Uromi, where they were intercepted by a vigilante group. The vigilante leader questioned the driver about his cargo and the passengers’ identities. Despite presenting the waybill for the goods, the commander expressed suspicion about the hunters, particularly due to their weapons and dogs on board the truck.
“He stated that he did not trust them and demanded they disembark. Upon seeing their guns and dogs, the crowd launched an attack,” the driver narrated. “The commander labeled us kidnappers and Boko Haram members, and the mob began to beat us mercilessly.
“The driver, along with two other men identified as Haruna, an older gentleman, and a younger man, were handcuffed by the vigilante commander and taken to a nearby police station. The vigilante leader informed the police that they had apprehended suspected kidnappers, leading to their immediate detention.
“By the time he returned to the scene, the mob had already killed 16 people,” the driver revealed, his voice filled with anguish.He categorically dismissed any suggestion that the incident was a tribal clash. “This was not a tribal clash,” he asserted.
