Key Points

• Uromi residents accuse the police of unfair arrests and extortion.

• Fear grows in the town as people worry about further violence.

• The Concerned Northern Forum warns of reprisals if justice is not done.

Uromi is still shaken after 16 northern travellers were killed by a mob last week. The killings happened when the victims were mistaken for kidnappers, and now, many people in Uromi are afraid of what might happen next.

Residents say the police have been making unfair arrests and demanding money from those they detain.

Some have even been threatened with being sent to Abuja unless they pay large sums.

Many young people in the town are angry. One young man, who had just returned from abroad, said he was forced to transfer N1 million to avoid being arrested.

Residents say these actions are making the situation worse and creating more fear.

“People are afraid to leave their homes because they don’t know if they will be arrested,” said Prince Eugene Olumese, a local resident.

Fear spreads as police presence increases in Uromi

Even though the police are trying to address the issue, the mood in Uromi remains tense. On market day, the busy Mission Road, usually filled with people and traffic, was much quieter than usual.

Many shops stayed closed, and people stayed home. “Business is slow because people are afraid to come out,” said one trader.

The situation has made many locals lose trust in the police. They feel the authorities are not doing enough to bring justice to the victims of the killings.

“The police should be protecting us, but now they’re just causing more problems,” said a resident.

Northern group threatens reprisals if justice is not served

In response to the killings, the Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) has demanded justice.

The group also warned that if the authorities do not take action, there could be reprisals in northern states, including Abuja.

The CNF feels the government has failed to protect northerners living in the south. “We will not stay quiet while our people are being killed,” said the CNF in a statement.

The group also called for compensation for the families of the victims. They urged the government to take strong action and make sure the people responsible are punished.

They warned that if justice is not served, there could be further violence. The CNF also advised all northerners living in the south to return home for their safety.