Reno Omokri, the former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, has advised the Edo State governor to swiftly take legal actions against those responsible for the killings of the sixteen Northerners in Uromi.
This statement was captured in a post he made on his Facebook page, where he noted that delaying the prosecution may escalate the entire situation even if financial atonements were made to the victims’ families.
The social commentator stated that the case should be handled as a top priority, because there is video evidence that makes it an “open-and-shut case. He advised the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to take decisive action to stop further deterioration of ethnic relations in the country.
He wrote:
”The most effective way to calm the North after the Uromi killings of at least sixteen Northerners is for the Edo State Government to speedily and publicly try those responsible. Failure to do that, even if financial compensation is paid to the victims’ families, will lead to a heightening of tension. The trial should start immediately. This is more or less an open-and-shut case. There is video evidence.”
To buttress his point, Omokri cited an example using what transpired between Governor Makinde of Oyo State and the Odua nation agitators who attempted to violently take over the Oyo State Government secretariat on Friday, April 12, 2024. Reno noted that Governor Seyi Makinde did not wait for any Federal Government intervention or call on the Nigerian Army to provide internal security; rather, he “used state forces to arrest the perpetrators within hours. The next day, Governor Seyi Makinde destroyed their houses. On the third day, they were in court. Today, they are now special guests of the Oyo State Government at Agodi prison.”
Alspo, Omokri pointed out that Governor Makinde repeated the same feat after the December 18, 2024 Ibadan Stampede, even when those involved were VIPs. “Within 96 hours, eight people who were arrested were facing charges, including Olori Naomi Silekunola,” he added.
Asserting that he is a Southerner who has lived in the North, he confirmed that words can only calm the northerners down if they are backed up with action. He further reiterated that it has been over 96 hours, that Governor Okpebholo should get these men before a judge as soon as possible, and the restive North will be calmed.
Further, he urged Nigerians to learn from our history, because the best predictor of the future is the past, and everything must be done to prevent retaliatory killings.
Meanwhile, netizens have gathered under his post to express their views. While others supported him, a lot called him out, asking if some lives are more important than others. A user, Kingsley Eboh commented, “But they wouldn’t swiftly catch the herdsmen killing & destroying peoples farmland, very hypocritical. Islam/Fulani’s have their way’s in Nigeria. Jungle justice maybe the best vaccine for Fulani-meningism” in Nigeria”
Another user, Festus Onyenenue, also added “We are divided to the point that North, South, West and East is like a country of it own within Nigeria.
16 Nigerians were killed by Nigerians, we choose to identify 16 Nigerians citizens as 16 Northerners.
The earlier we stop the classification of citizens based on religion, tribe and region the better for Nigeria.”
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