Plateau Massacre: “North Now Killing Field” — Northern Elders Cry To Buhari
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed concern that the country’s north has turned into a killing field.
The NEF made the remark in response to the most recent death of passengers in Jos, Plateau State.
On Saturday, unidentified gunmen attacked travelers in the Rukuba road region of Plateau State’s Jos North Local Government Area.
Many people were killed in the incident, and many more were injured.
NEF reacted by calling the attack a “outrageous provocation” that has harmed community relations.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the NEF’s spokesman, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari and the State Governor, Simon Lalong, not to disregard the crime in a statement.
According to the Forum, Buhari and Lalong should ensure that those responsible for the atrocity are brought to justice.
According to Baba-Ahmed: “Northern Elders Forum is shocked by the cold blooded murder of scores of travelers by locals in Jos, Plateau State.
“Notwithstanding the fact that most of the North of Nigeria is now a virtual killing field, this particular incident is an outrageous provocation, and it compounds the deteriorating community relations in this and many parts of the region.
“The Forum has taken note of the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari and the steps taken by Governor of Plateau State, HE Simon Lalong. These reactions must produce immediate results in arrests and prosecutions.
“Under no circumstances must this heinous crime be ignored or treated as routine.”
Baba-Ahmed also called for restraints in the affected area because reprisal attacks would lead to more killings.
He said: “While condoling families of those murdered, the Forum appeals to all communities to show the highest levels of restraint and tolerance. Killings and reprisals only endanger lives of more people, most of them innocent.”
NEF further lamented the rising activities of armed gunmen in the Northern part of the country.
Baba-Ahmed said the government should ensure Nigerians understands that there are “consequences for their actions, or the country will sink deeper into lawlessness and anarchy.”
