Uromi killings: Deputy Senate President visits victims’ families, donates N16m

Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, on Wednesday visited Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State and sympathised with the families of the 16 travellers who were killed in Uromi, Edo State.

Jibrin met with the families of the victims who hailed from Bunkure, Kibiya, Rano and Garko Local Government Areas, at the At-Taqwa Mosque in the Sabon Fegi area of Bunkure town.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Ismail Mudashir, said Senator Barau reassured the families of the deceased hunters that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

Mudashir said Senator Barau was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of State of Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the Managing Director of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Prof.Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji, among other dignitaries.

In addition to the 14 suspects earlier arrested, he said, security agents had nabbed two more persons in connection with the killing of the hunters.

The lawmaker announced a donation of N1m to each of the families of the 16 deceased hunters, totalling N16m.

The Deputy President of the Senate said he would also sponsor a motion on the matter when the Senate resumes later this month.

“I am here to sympathise with you over the tragic incident that led to the death of 16 of our brothers last Thursday. May Allah grant them Jannatul Firdaus and quicken the recovery of those injured.

“I was worried when the incident happened. I had to call the state governor, security agencies and all stakeholders involved. They swung into action, and so far apart from the 14 people who have been arrested, two more suspects have been nabbed. The state governor, who visited my house in Abuja, has assured me that the state government will support you.

“We will not take it lightly. We will ensure that the culprits are brought to book and face the wrath of the law,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the families, the Chief Imam of the area, Sheikh Zainul Abidina Auwal, thanked Senator Barau for his efforts at ensuring that justice is served on the matter and described him as the leader needed for the country’s development.