A Nigerian man named Abubakar Shehu has revealed how he managed to survive a brutal attack on his hunting party that shocked the nation after 16 of his colleagues died on the spot.
Most of the men who were attacked were in their 20s, travelling in the back of a truck when vigilantes stopped them.
“They asked us to alight from the vehicle and without saying much, one of them hit our leader on the shoulder with an axe,” Shehu, 20, told the BBC.
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“Then they started beating us. I was able to dodge a couple of punches and tackles and ran as far as I could. I fell into a ditch, got up and was able to hide in an unused property for many hours before coming out around 10 pm,” he said.
As he hid, Shehu said he heard the shouts and cries of his friends being beaten and then burnt to death.
“I could hear all the noise from what was happening and I was scared for my life. Thankfully no-one saw me,” the 20-year-old said.
Minutes later, he managed to return to the road, where he was spotted by a truck driver who picked him up and took him to safety.
Last week’s gruesome attack on a group from northern Nigeria has heightened tensions across the country.
Reports indicate that the victims had spent many weeks in the south hunting wild animals to sell and were on their way home to celebrate Eid.
Amnesty International and other human rights groups have called on the authorities to ensure that justice is served.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, condemned the killings, affirming that all citizens have the right to move freely anywhere in the country.
He asked security agencies to track down the perpetrators, emphasizing that “jungle justice” has no place in Nigeria.
Police say that 14 suspects in connection with the case have been arrested so far, and many across the country are closely watching to see how the investigation into the Nigerian attack unfolds.
Tensions between northern and southern Nigerians remain high, after years of deadly clashes between northern animal herders and southern farmers over access to water and grazing land.
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Reports indicate that thousands have been killed in these disputes.
Amid widespread insecurity across Nigeria, towns like Uromi in Edo State — where the attack occurred — have established vigilante groups as a form of local defense, as per reports.
The hunters, who were from Kano State in the north, were reportedly armed with traditional rifles and say they presented licenses for the weapons when stopped by the vigilantes.
In Toronkawa village, where the victims’ families live, mourning continues more than a week after the devastating incident.
Adama Ali, the mother of one of the victims, is devastated, saying her son didn’t have to leave the world this way.
“I kept calling his phone, but no one was picking up,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks. Earlier this week, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo visited his Kano State counterpart in a bid to ease tensions.
Okpebholo offered condolences to the victims’ families and promised them compensation, though that is far from what they seek at the moment.
Having lost so many young men, the village remains in deep mourning, as the victims of the Nigerian attack were known by almost everyone in the community.
Chairman of the village hunters’ association, Mustapha Usman, said nothing would bring more peace than seeing justice served.
Mr. Shehu, one of the survivors, echoed that sentiment. “I thank God for sparing my life and bringing me back home, and I pray for those who lost their lives,” he said.
