Uromi Killings: “Stop Carrying Weapons From North To South”, NASS Member Cautions

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The  Lawmaker representing Rano/Bunkure/ Kibiya Federal Constituency of Kano  at the National Assembly, Hon Alhassan Kabiru Rirum on Thursday, April 17, 2025, cautioned his constituents against hunting in the Southern region of the country at this critical time.

His admonition is coming against the backdrop of the lynching of no fewer than 16 hunters in Uromi, Esan North Local Council of Edo State, early in the month.

The victims were,  reportedly,  killed by a mob that mistook them for part of the kidnappers that have been terrorizing some parts of Edo State of recent.

The incident has however provoked wide indignation and condemnation from across the country.

Amidst the outcry and tension that have trailed the killings, Hon Rirum, whose constituents from Bunkure were the victims, expressed his  total disapproval of carrying guns and other weapons from the North to the South in the face of the present security challenges in the country.

According to him, conveying guns and other dangerous weapons from the North to hunt in the South has the huge potentials of provoking misunderstanding, and violence.

Hon Rirum, who spoke on Thursday during a condolence visit to the families of the victims  of the  attack in Torankwa Community, Bunkure Local Council of Kano, noted that gone  are the  days hunters could criss cross the nooks and  crannies of the country without any iota of suspicion.

He regretted that the dire security challenges facing almost all parts of the country in various forms has made  inter-regional hunting expeditions no longer feasible.

“The present day Nigeria requires people doing businesses or engaging in trades that would not create any suspicion that might result in uncertainties.

“Carrying dangerous weapons and moving around with them from one end to another in this sensitive period of insecurity in the land will surely send a bad signal and result in causing chaos. Therefore, our hunters should henceforth stop this practice of moving to the South with weapons in hunting expedition.

“Just recently, over 30 of my Rano home town hunters were apprehended in Ondo State. I had to personally go and see the Governor and show evidence that they are not criminals before he worked out their release .

“If those people in Ondo who arrested our Rano hunters were as senseless as those of Uromi, what do you think would have happened? The story would have been different by now”, Rirum noted.

The Federal Legislator who is loyal to the NNPP faction opposed to the Kwakwassiya movement later donated the sum of N5 million to the families of the victims.