The Edo police command says its operatives have arrested 14 suspects in connection with the killing of 16 travellers and the torching of their truck in Uromi town.

On Thursday, a mob allegedly attacked and killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano.

The incident happened on the Uromi/Obajana expressway under the Esan north-east LGA of Edo.

TheCable understands that a truck carrying 25 travellers from Elele, Rivers, was intercepted by a vigilante group.

The travellers were assaulted and lynched after some vigilante members accused them of being kidnappers, but 10 were rescued, and two injured ones remain in the hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered the police and other security agencies to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In a statement on Friday evening, Moses Yamu, the police spokesperson in Edo, said members of the vigilante group found some locally made guns with them, sparking suspicion that they were kidnappers.

“While this was ongoing, some vigilante members raised an alarm, claiming the travellers were suspected kidnappers,” the statement reads.

“This led some community members and passers-by to attack and lynch 16 occupants, and the truck conveying them was also set on fire.

“Police operatives from the Uromi Division got wind of the incident and swiftly moved to the scene.

“In the course of investigations, 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.

“An emergency meeting was also convened with stakeholders and community members.”

The police spokesperson said the command is committed to securing justice for the victims, adding that every possible measure would be taken in the ongoing investigation.

Yamu added that a unit of mobile police force and other tactical teams have been sent to the area to prevent any further disruption of law and order.

Betty Otimenyin, Edo police commissioner, implored groups to coexist peacefully and called on residents to remain calm and cooperate with the security operatives.

There are reports that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is attending a Sunday service at Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

This development follows widespread speculation regarding his whereabouts since President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency last Tuesday.

Amid uncertainty, some reports suggested that Governor Fubara had relocated to the Bayelsa State Government House to reside for the six-month duration of the emergency.

However, his public appearance today provides clarity on his location.

President Tinubu had suspended the governor, his deputy and all elected members of the state House of Assembly over a prolonged political crisis in the state, citing a Brando of law and order.

Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has condemned the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria’s imposition of outrageous annual dues on private or non-quoted companies.

This condemnation comes against the backdrop of the recent implementation of the Financial Reporting Council Amendment Act 2023 (FRC Act), which widened the net of companies that fell under the FRC’s purview and also reviewed the payment structure of these companies as their annual dues moved from N1 million to hundreds of millions of naira based on their annual turnover.

NECA declared the introduction of the levies unjust and unconscionable, particularly when the dues for quoted or listed companies are capped at N25 million.

According to the Director General of NECA, Smatt-Oyerinde, the policy would not only contradict the Federal Government’s efforts to stimulate economic growth, attract investment, streamline the tax regime, and promote job creation but also threaten the survival of thousands of private enterprises already grappling with rising operational costs, multiple taxation, regulatory bottlenecks, and economic uncertainty.

Smatt-Oyerinde described the imposition of the arbitrary levies as strange, especially at a time when the government was championing the Ease of Doing Business (Executive Order 001) and actively seeking foreign and local investments to boost Nigeria’s economic growth as well as streamline the imposition of taxes and levies within the country.

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He noted with concern the increasing cost of running businesses in Nigeria at this time, noting that any additional financial demand would add unnecessary strain and stifle business expansion.
“Many companies especially those in manufacturing, trading, and essential services—operate on thin margins. Imposing additional costs increases the risk of layoffs, business closures, and economic downturns. Apart from that, the perception that regulatory agencies can impose arbitrary fees on businesses, sending a negative signal to both local and foreign investors and weakening Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy. It will only serve to discourage investment when this is most needed to boost the economy,” he said.

He therefore called on the Federal Government, National Assembly, and all relevant authorities to act swiftly to protect businesses from unjustified regulatory exploitation and take a more pragmatic approach to implementing economic policies to ensure job security for the people and the survival of businesses in Nigeria.

He further urged the Federal Government to suspend the enforcement of the new FRC annual dues on private companies and revert to the previous regime of N1 million (one million naira) until a transparent and comprehensive review is conducted.

In the same vein, he urged the National Assembly to initiate an immediate legislative review of the FRC Act (as amended in 2023) to remove ambiguities, streamline FRC oversight and ensure fairness in the regulatory framework.

Additionally, he stressed the need for the FG, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, to engage with key stakeholders in the Organised Private Sector (NECA, MAN, NACCIMA, and other business advocacy groups) to develop a fair, justifiable, and economically sustainable compliance framework.

He maintained that the private sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, noting that the Federal Government cannot afford to develop policies that are not only inimical to their growth but also detrimental to national development.