Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has paid a condolence visit to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, over the killings of travellers in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The governor was at the Maitama residence of the Deputy President of the Senate in Abuja on Monday.

A mob had intercepted the innocent travellers who were on their way to Kano State for Sallah celebrations, ransacked their vehicle and gruesomely murdered them on Thursday. The victims who were hunters are from Kano State.

The Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ismail Mudashir, said the governor extended his condolences to the Deputy President of the Senate, who is from Kano State, pledging that the state government will assist the families of the victims.

The Edo State governor disclosed that the 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killings of the innocent travellers are going to be taken to Abuja for further interrogation.

While assuring that the perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law, he described the killings of the innocent travellers as unfortunate and condemnable.

” It’s unfortunate that it happened in our state. We are here to say, to let you and other people know that we are not happy.
The president is doing something drastic about this. He’s not happy also. The IG has swung into action. The DIG CID is in charge. So far, they have arrested 14 suspects.

” So they are bringing them to Abuja for interrogation. We have also set up a committee to see that we take care of the families of the deceased,” he said.

Responding, the Deputy President of the Senate said the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

” We cannot undo what has been done. But we all want – all Nigerians, what they are looking forward to is to make sure that these people are arrested and brought to justice. And you are doing well in that direction. And I’m also glad you’ve spoken about the fact that your government is ready to assist the families of those affected.

” I want you to continue to pursue the case so that all those who were involved in these barbaric actions are brought to justice. It’s a barbaric action, to say the facts.

” If they are brought to justice, it would serve as a deterrent to those who might want to do this in future. I know that people from other parts of the country have been staying with your people in Edo for centuries in a very conducive atmosphere. And this barbaric act has never happened. I’m sure, under your watch, this will not happen again.

” I thank you very much. You’ve told me now that you’ll meet the Kano State governor today. This is very good. Please continue what you are doing. Mr President also told us that you are doing very well in this direction, and we have seen it because, as I said, we have spoken several times on this matter in the last 72 hours,” he said.

The former deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Hon. Murtala Sule Garo has urged the Muslim faithful to uphold dedication in the worship of Allah beyond the Ramadan period.

Garo said this in a Sallah message, on Saturday in Kano.
He congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the 2025 Ramadan fast and the Eid al-Fitr celebration.

The Galadima Garo reminded them that the teachings of the Holy Quran and Hadith, centred on peace, love, discipline, and humility.

He noted that the worship of Allah should not only be observed during Ramadan fast, but for lifelong.
While thanking Allah for the season, Murtala Sule Garo, a former Commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy Affairs, said that the celebration revolved around love, arms giving to the less privileged and peaceful co-existence with people of other religions.

Garo urged Muslims to use the period of the Sallah festivities to also pray for enduring peace in Kano and Nigeria at large.

Emir of Kano and Khalifah of Tijaniyya, His Highness, Khalifah Muhammadu Sanusi II, has reacted to the recent ban imposed on Sallah Durbar, noting that the action becomes pertinent for enduring peace and development of the state.

Besides, Emir Sanusi declared that the annual traditional heritage that usually celebrated at the end of Ramadan is not a matter of life and death but a cultural symbol dated back to the 15th century.

Sanusi, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was speaking while hosting eminent Islamic scholars and prominent personalities to Iftar dinner at the palace on Saturday.

The first class emir of Kano described peace as the only backbone of progress and development of any society, accepted to withdraw all planned activities of the emirate intended for the colorful Durbar, inscribed by UNESCO an intangible heritage of humanity.

Recall that the Commissioner of Police in Kano, CP Adamu Bakori under a joint security apparatus announced the ban on the proposed Sallah Durbar, citing impending security threat revealed by relevant intelligent notice.

The Emir, however, reminded that he does not see the Eid El Fitr Durbar as “a matter of life and death”, adding that the lives and safety of Kano citizens are more paramount to him.

He, therefore, appealed to residents and the general public to remain peaceful and law abiding while cooperating with the security agencies to ensure law and order during and after the Sallah festival.

On his part, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Faruq, applauded the emir for his spirit of love and kindness. He stated that he experienced the Emir’s kindheartedness when was a lecturer at ABU in the early 1980s where he guided and supported them as his students.

The SSG expressed gratitude to the Emir for showing concern for the lives of Kano citizens, by his willingness to cancel the Eid El Fitr Durbar celebration.

Similarly, the Murshid (Chief Imam) of the National Mosque, Professor Shehu Ahmad Galadanci expressed deep appreciation to Emir Sanusi for exhibiting profound wisdom and knowledge as the leader of the Emirate.

Professor Galadanci also a former National Security Adviser aligned with the submission of the emir and emphasized that the lives and properties of people of Kano are more important than the Eid El Fitr Durbar celebration, applauding Sanusi for promoting peaceful coexistence in Kano.