Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau visited Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State on Wednesday to extend his condolences and provide financial assistance to the families of 16 travelers who were killed in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The victims, who were reportedly hunters, hailed from several local government areas, including Bunkure, Kibiya, Rano, and Garko. The meeting with the grieving families took place at the At-Taqwa Mosque in Sabon Fegi, Bunkure LGA, where Barau assured them that justice would be served.
Accompanying the Senate Deputy President on the visit were Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the Managing Director of the North West Development Commission, Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji, and other officials.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Barau noted that those responsible for the killings would be held accountable under the law. He confirmed that security agencies had initially arrested 14 suspects, and two more had recently been taken into custody.
To support the affected families, Barau announced a donation of N1 million to each of the 16 families, bringing the total financial aid to N16 million. He also promised to raise the issue at the Senate when it reconvenes later this month.
“I am here to express my deepest sympathies for the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 16 of our brothers last Thursday. May Allah grant them Jannatul Firdaus and provide swift recovery to those injured,” Barau stated.
He further noted that he had contacted the state governor and security agencies immediately after the incident, leading to the swift arrests. He added that the state governor had assured him of the government’s full support in handling the case.
“We will not treat this matter lightly. We are committed to ensuring that the culprits are brought to book and face the full force of the law,” Barau affirmed.
Speaking on behalf of the grieving families, the Chief Imam of the area, Sheikh Zainul Abidina Auwal, expressed appreciation for Barau’s commitment to seeking justice. He described the senator as a dedicated leader whose efforts were crucial to the progress of the nation.
