More than eight months after a brutal massacre, the grieving families of 16 hunters from Kano state, killed in Edo state, are threatening a major peaceful protest in the nation's capital. Their anger stems from the failure of both state governments to fulfill public promises of compensation, leaving the bereaved in severe hardship and poverty.
Promises Made, Promises Broken: A Tale of Unfulfilled Pledges
The tragedy dates back to March 2025 in Uromi, Edo state, where the hunters, who hailed from Bunkure, Garko, Dawakin Kudu, Kibiya, and Rano Local Government Areas of Kano, were brutally killed during an expedition. In April 2025, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano and Senator Monday Okpebholo of Edo paid a joint condolence visit to the families. During this high-profile visit, both governors publicly pledged to provide compensation for the victims' families.
However, according to Malam Haruna Iliyasu Kibiya, the Chairman of the Committee of the Victims’ Families, not a single kobo has been paid to any of the affected households. He revealed this in an interview with the Global Tracker, painting a grim picture of the consequences of this inaction.
Families Plunged into Distress and Destitution
The loss of their breadwinners has had a catastrophic effect on the families. Malam Kibiya described a situation of severe hardship, stating, "The families of the slain hunters are living in distress and poverty. They do not even have food to eat, their children can no longer attend school, and their homes are falling apart because they have lost their household heads."
This lamentation was echoed by relatives who spoke to Legit.ng. Aisha Muhammad, a relative of one victim, expressed the family's despair: "We have not even been compensated. We find it difficult to eat, and our children are now all suffering." Another relative, Saifullahi Garko, noted that life has turned upside down since the incident, confirming his initial skepticism about the governors' promises.
Civil Society Coalition Announces Major Abuja Protest
Frustrated by the prolonged delay and the suffering of the families, a coalition of civil society organisations has decided to take action. The Secretary of the coalition, Comrade Kabiru Sani Garko, disclosed that preparations are at an advanced stage for a major peaceful demonstration.
The protest is scheduled to be held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, during the second week of February 2026. The primary goal is to pressure the authorities into action, demanding justice and the immediate fulfillment of the compensation pledge made to the hunters' families. Comrade Garko expressed hope for nationwide support to ensure the successful realization of the families' rights.
This planned protest underscores the growing tension and the urgent need for the governments of Kano and Edo states to address the legitimate grievances of families who have waited for justice and support for over eight months since the horrific Edo massacre.
