Regarding the murder of northern travelers in Uromi, Edo, the Northern Elders Forum, or NEF, has issued three main demands to the federal and Edo State governments.
This comes after the forum issued a warning that the southern Nigerian people’s recklessness will no longer be tolerated in the region. Professor Abubakar Jiddere, the NEF spokesperson, revealed this over the weekend in a statement to newsmen.
In order to guarantee accountability and transparency, the conference called for the arrest and trial of the individuals who killed 16 northern travelers in Uromi to be held in public. NEF also demanded that Uromi and the Edo State government issue an unconditional public apology and pledge to prevent similar savage crimes from happening in the future.
Finally, the forum stated that compensation should be duly paid to the families of the victims in line with prescribed standards. NEF subsequently gave the Edo State and Federal Government two weeks to meet these demands or face the consequences.
According to the statement: “The North has tolerated numerous acts of recklessness from some parts of Southern 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 innocent travellers. The NEF demands a public prosecution of the perpetrators and those who 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 behaviour 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 future acts of violence.”
“The NEF also demands that the Edo State Government and the Federal Government take concrete and visible steps to fulfil these demands within fourteen (14) days from the date of this statement.”
Before their terrible demise, the slain travelers were traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah holiday. Nigerians are outraged at the mob massacre. President Bola Ahmed had already ordered security forces to find those responsible for the Edo State mob massacre.
In a forceful statement, Northern governors denounced the unlawful killing, stating that it is an unforgivable conduct. Senators, Northern youths, and the National Assembly have all condemned the mob deaths.
