Bashir Ahmad, the Special Assistant to former president Muhammadu Buhari, on Digital Communications concerning the Hausa haunters burnt to death in Uromi, Edo state, defended that they were not bandit.

Last Friday, 16 Hausa hunters were accosted by local security in Uromi on the allegation that they are bandits, jungle justice was melted out on them as, seven of them while burnt to death by the mob.

The northerners were said to be coming from Port Harcourt, heading home to Kano for Salah celebration when the Dangote truck conveying them was stopped and searched, they were caught with dane guns.

“You and I both know that no terrorist would sit idly while being burned alive without fighting back, and we all know that those travelers were not bandits, if they had been the actual bandits, it would not have ended that way.

“Bandits are killers and do not move around unarmed. They are heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and are never afraid to use them, not even against our own soldiers, let alone a local vigilante group.” He defended

The former Personal Assistance to former president condemned the action of those in support of the mob killing, describing it as “collective barbarism”, cautioning supporters of the jungle justice to keep quiet rather than add to the pain of the victims’ families.

“What happened in Uromi was a cowardly act of collective barbarism rooted in ignorance and hate.

“If you cannot find it in you to demand justice for those murdered innocent travelers, then the least honorable thing you can do is remain silent. But to go further and try so hard to paint them as bandits is a grave injustice.” Ahmad warned

The unfortunate event has caused northern government to weigh in heavily on the killing, demanding for justice and want the perpetrators caught, while some people had defended the travelers death as well deserve, since the government has refused to wade in, when the Uromi called for help when bandit and herders killed, raped and maimed them

By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth