Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested two key suspects linked to the killing of 16 travelers of northern extraction in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpehbolo, Fred Itua, the arrests followed credible intelligence and ongoing security operations in the area.
The suspects have been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation and prosecution, while security agencies continue efforts to apprehend other individuals involved in the attack. A security source confirmed that a total of 14 suspects have so far been taken into custody and handed over to Force Headquarters for investigation.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Uromi, as residents in the affected area reportedly flee their homes over fears of widespread arrests. Protests have also erupted, with women storming the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi to express concerns over alleged indiscriminate detentions by security operatives.
Governor Okpehbolo, in collaboration with the Kano State Government, has assured the families of the victims that they will be compensated, though details of the compensation package remain undisclosed.
In a related development, the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused opposition parties of attempting to destabilize the state. The party’s chairman, Jarret Tenebe, alleged that some political actors were plotting to create chaos and push for a state of emergency ahead of a key judgment at the Edo Election Petition Tribunal.
As the situation unfolds, security forces have ramped up efforts to maintain order and ensure that those responsible for the killings are brought to justice.
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