Twelve months after the lynching of 16 Kano hunters by vigilantes at Uromi community in Edo State, relatives of the victims are crying out for compensation from the Edo State government.
 
The 29 Kano-bound hunters, who were travelling from Rivers State to Kano for the Eid holiday in March 2025, were intercepted by vigilantes who falsely accused them of being kidnappers.
 
Despite several appeals by the hunters, a mob was unleashed on them. Sixteen were burnt to death, while 13 narrowly escaped with injuries.
 
Regretting the gruesome killing, Governor Monday Okpebholo led top officials of his government to Kano on a condolence visit and pledged that adequate compensation would be provided to ease the pain of the victims’ families.
 
Okpebholo was received by his Kano counterpart, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and both leaders visited Torankawa village, a Fulani settlement in Bunkure Local Council, under heavy security.

During the visit, they commiserated with the families and called for calm following the tragic incident.
 
The Edo State governor also used the opportunity to promise compensation for the victims’ families and promised that measures would be put in place to prevent a recurrence.
 
Recounting their ordeal at the weekend in Bunkure, one of the survivors and leader of the hunters, Ibrahim Isa, lamented what he described as total neglect of the victims’ families, who have lost their breadwinners.
 
He expressed regret that one year after the visit by both governors, neither government has fully fulfilled its compensation promises.

Isa said life has become unbearable for him and the widows of the deceased.

He spoke shortly after receiving N200,000 and food items from the Kano State government.
 
While appreciating the support, Isa urged the Edo State government to fulfil its pledge and alleviate the suffering of the families.

Similarly, a 20-year-old widow, Khadija Abdullahi Hamisu, lamented her struggles since losing her husband last year.
 
The young woman, who also lost her five-month pregnancy during the incident, revealed that apart from individual support, both state governments are yet to fulfil their promises since the killing of her husband.
 
Leading government officials to Bunkure at the weekend, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Abdullahi Ibrahim Waiya, said he was in the village to deliver N7.4 million in cash and food items.
 
Although the commissioner expressed regret over the delay in fulfilling the pledges made over the past 12 months, he assured that Governor Yusuf remains committed to engaging his Edo counterpart to ensure the promise is honoured.
 
According to Waiya, Governor Yusuf approved N300,000 for each of the 16 deceased hunters’ families and N200,000 for each of the 13 survivors, in addition to food items.