By Our Reporter
Benin City, April 1, 2025 – Prominent Media expert and senatorial aspirant under the Labour Party, Com. Paul Omo Okojie, has strongly condemned the recent mob killings of 16 Northerners in Uromi, Edo State.
Comrade Okojie who described the tragic incident as a failure of the Police Command to act swiftly has called for the immediate removal of the Edo State Police Commissioner, Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, over gross negligence of duty.
According to the press statement signed by Comrade Paul Okojie and made available to Newsmen said that the victims, who were burnt alive by an irate mob, were targeted in response to growing tensions over violent kidnappings and attacks on farmers by criminal elements suspected to be operating as terrorists. The gruesome killings have sparked outrage across the country, with many questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement agency in the region.
Comrade Okojie, expressed deep sadness and outrage over the killings, criticizing the Edo State Police Command for its failure to act decisively to prevent the tragedy.
He lamented over the rise in insecurity in Edo Central, particularly in Uromi, where farmers have been under siege from criminal elements without adequate police intervention.
“It is disheartening that despite repeated calls for proactive policing and intelligence-led security measures, the Edo State Police Command has consistently failed to protect our people,” Okojie stated.
“The brazen nature of these killings suggests not just a breakdown in law enforcement but also a disturbing level of complicity through inaction.”
He further accused Commissioner Otimenyin of dereliction of duty, stating that the police were absent during the lynching and have failed to bring the perpetrators to justice. According to him, the commissioner’s inability to prevent the crisis or respond effectively has emboldened criminals and endangered lives.
Okojie called on the Inspector General of Police and relevant authorities to immediately relieve the Edo State Police Commissioner of her duties and replace her with a competent commissioner of police who will prioritize the safety of Edo residents. He also urged the Edo State Government and federal security agencies to conduct a transparent investigation into the killings and ensure that those responsible, including any complicit security officers, are brought to justice.
“The people of Edo Central deserve peace, security, and justice,” Okojie asserted. “Enough is enough.”
The Uromi killings have sent shockwaves across Edo State and beyond, raising fresh concerns about mob justice and the escalating security crisis in the region. Community leaders and rights groups have joined in demanding accountability and swift action to prevent further bloodshed.
As investigations unfold, citizens continue to call for reforms in the state’s security infrastructure, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive and competent policing to restore public confidence and ensure justice for all victims.