The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has declared that killings of northerners in different parts of southern Nigeria will no longer be tolerated.
The elders condemned the killing of hunters in Uromi, Edo state, in a statement by the spokesperson of the forum, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere.
The statement released on Saturday, said, “NEF received the shocking, sad, and deeply disturbing news of the barbaric, extra-judicial, and cowardly killing of innocent Northern hunters who were returning home to celebrate the end of Ramadan and Eid Kabir Sallah festival with their families in Uromi, Edo State. This heinous act is totally unacceptable, and we condemn it in the strongest terms.
“The North has tolerated numerous acts of recklessness from some Southern part of Nigeria in the past. This must come to an end.
“The arrest and trial of all individuals responsible for the attack and the brutal killings of the innocent travellers. The NEF demands a public prosecution of the perpetrators and those that aided the crime to ensure full transparency and accountability.
“The due payment of compensation to the families of the victims, in line with the prescribed standards of their respective faiths.
“An unreserved apology from the people and authorities of Edo State, with a commitment to ensuring that such barbaric behavior never occurs again.
“An unreserved apology from the Edo State Government to the North for this heinous attack on its people. The punishment of the perpetrators must be witnessed by the public to serve as a deterrent to any such future acts of violence.”
The elders also gave the Federal and Edo State governments 14 days to take concrete and visible steps.
“Failure to do so will compel the North to take all necessary actions to seek justice for her people and the North,” it added.
It further called on the Federal Government to ensure that justice is served to the victims and their families to preserve peace, stability, and the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians.
