PRESS STATEMENT: SPN CONDEMNS THE GRUESOME MURDER OF 16 NIGERIANS FROM THE NORTH IN UROMI
April 8, 2025
PRESS STATEMENT
SPN CONDEMNS THE GRUESOME MURDER OF 16 NIGERIANS FROM THE NORTH IN UROMI
Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) condemns the gruesome murder of 16 northerners in Uromi, Edo State. This barbaric killing is the latest jungle justice that has become a recurring decimal in different parts of Nigeria. Over 20 northerners were found in a truck in Uromi enroute to Kano on March 28, 2025 with traditionally made guns (Dane Guns) and were suspected to be kidnappers and were instantly mobbed to death in a gruesome manner, only few of them escaped.
SPN recognises that the reason for jungle justices is the failure of past and present governments including the security apparatus to provide security for Nigerians and the failure of the operators of the justice system (Police, Court, civil bureaucracy etc.) to always truly and impartially dispense justice. As a result, the people in various communities have resorted to self-help in providing their own security to fill the vacuum created by a failed State.
Nigeria has about 300,000 Police men and women but many of them are mopped up to give protection to few privileged government officials and the rich while the vast majority is not secured. Besides, the police officers (rank and file) are subjected to poor working conditions and have become vulnerable to being used for personal interest by the rich and highest bidder. The other problems mitigating against policing is the undemocratic top-down control of the Police by the capitalist ruling elite who use the police and other security agencies to protect its own parochial interest over the interest of the vast majority of the working people including using the Police to harass, intimidate, arrest and brutalize innocent Nigerians including undermining democratic rights. For instance, we have witnessed such attacks on ENDSARS and Endbadgovernance mass protests in 2020 and 2024 respectively and the arrest and persecution of innocent journalists and activists.
The people do not also trust the judiciary (Courts) because it is not only corrupt but usually used by the wealthy and powerful against the poor. The poor cannot access justice because it is a commodity too expensive to purchase.
Despite the failure of the government and the capitalist ruling elite, we strongly hold that jungle justice is not a solution. After the arrest of the hunters, the vigilante and the communities should have handed them to the Police for investigation, put pressure on the police and government for transparent investigation to ascertain if they were truly hunters or kidnappers. The method of jungle justice gives room for arbitrariness, unfair treatment and unjustifiable attacks. Hence, SPN calls for the arrest and prosecution of those who participated in the killing. However, we warn against indiscriminate arrests, harassment and extortion of residents of Uromi by the police and other security agencies.
We also condemn stereotyping and profiling of people from an ethnic group or a region because of atrocities of a few criminal elements of the same origin. The attack and killing of Uromi 16 is a sad example of the danger of what such an act portends.
There is a need for the justice system including all manners of vigilantes groups (Police, Amotekun, Hisbah, neighbourhood watch organisations, Agunechemba etc) to be democratically controlled by the working people through multi-ethnic defence committees and should be accountable to all.
Following the widespread interest that the killings have generated, President Tinubu has called for investigation while Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has suspended the vigilante groups and has visited Kano to douse tension. However, the same governments that have displayed obvious pretence have failed to address security challenges until another kidnap and jungle justice happens.
The government is also largely responsible for the socio-economic problems and hardship in the country through its anti-poor policies which have forced many Nigerians into desperation and crimes. SPN demands a reversal of all anti-poor policies such as reduction of petrol and electricity prices, reversal of deregulation and privatisation, introduction of free and quality education and healthcare for all, massive investment in industries and basic amenities to create massive jobs. Side by side with the reversal of all anti-poor policies, we call for the nationalisation (public ownership) of the commanding heights of economy (oil and gas, banks and financial institutions, power sector, etc) and placing them under the democratic control of the working class people. This is in order to mobilise adequate resources and ensure their judicious use such that the interest of the vast majority can be protected, and the economy can improve on a sustainable basis while poverty and hardship can be reduced drastically.
SIGNED:
Abiodun Bamigboye
Acting National Chairperson
Chinedu Bosah
National Secretary