A group of statesmen from the North, under the aegis of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has advised the President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong not to sweep the recent killing of 22 travelers in Jos, Plateau State under the carpet.

This was contained in a press release by the spokesman of the Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, the killing was an act of “outrageous provocation”, noting that it compounds the deteriorating community relations in the region.

The statement reads, “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 by President Muhammadu Buhari and the steps taken by Governor of Plateau State, 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.

“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.

“The Forum invites attention of leaders at all levels to the increasing vulnerability of Nigerians to armed criminality and deteriorating relations among many communities.

“It is vital that the citizen is made to feel safer and more secure. Every Nigerian must be made to know that there are consequences for their actions, or the country will sink deeper into lawlessness and anarchy.”

Source- Naijanews.