Uromi Killings: Stop movement of Northern hunters to South – Rep Rurum
Following the tragic killing and burning of Northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, the member representing Rano Kibiya and Bunkure Federal Constituency, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, has called for an immediate ban on the movement of hunters from Northern to Southern Nigeria, describing the practice as “archaic” and no longer feasible in the current security climate. […]
Following the tragic killing and burning of Northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, the member representing Rano Kibiya and Bunkure Federal Constituency, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, has called for an immediate ban on the movement of hunters from Northern to Southern Nigeria, describing the practice as “archaic” and no longer feasible in the current security climate.
Rurum, who represents Rano, Bunkure and Kibiya Federal Constituency, made the statement when he paid a condolence visit to the families of the victims in Torankawa community, Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State, on Thursday.
The victims, mostly traditional hunters from Rano, were reportedly killed and set ablaze in Uromi, a town in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, under circumstances that have continued to raise serious concerns about ethnic profiling, vigilantism and the breakdown of trust between communities.
Speaking at Torankawa, Rurum emphasized that the prevailing insecurity in the country requires restraint and sensitivity in the movement of individuals, particularly those bearing weapons, even for traditional purposes such as hunting.
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“The present-day Nigeria requires that people engage in professions and traditions that do not raise suspicion or cause unnecessary tension. Carrying weapons and moving from one end of the country to another in this sensitive period of insecurity sends the wrong signal and could lead to devastating consequences. Our hunters should henceforth put a stop to such movements,” Rurum said.
Rurum recalled a recent incident in Ondo State where over 30 hunters from his constituency were detained on suspicion of being criminals.
He said he had to personally intervene and present evidence to the state governor to secure their release.
“If those who arrested our Rano hunters in Ondo had acted like those in Uromi, the story would have been different today,” he remarked solemnly.
The lawmaker announced a personal donation of N5 million to the bereaved families and pledged to construct an Islamiyya Primary and Secondary School in the community to cater for the orphans left behind.
“These children deserve a future. They must not be forgotten,” he said.
Also speaking at the event was the factional chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State, Senator Masa’ud Jibrin El-Doguwa, who expressed grief over the incident and urged communities across the country to draw lessons from the tragedy to prevent such senseless killings from recurring.
El-Doguwa lauded Rurum’s gesture and pledged that construction work on the promised school would begin soon to give hope to the affected families.
“These children must know that their fathers did not die in vain. They are not alone,” El-Doguwa stated.
The visit drew a large crowd of supporters and sympathizers from across Bunkure and neighboring communities. Rurum was accompanied by other political figures, including Zubairu Masu, the member representing Sumaila Local Government Area in the Kano State House of Assembly.
The Uromi killings have reignited a national debate on ethnic tensions, inter-regional distrust and the growing risks associated with vigilante movements and traditional security structures operating across state lines.
Despite widespread condemnation, investigations into the incident have yielded little clarity while some arrests have been confirmed by authorities.