The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has condemned the recent killing of northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, warning that the North “has tolerated enough and will no longer accept such attacks.”
In a statement on Saturday, NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere described the incident as “shocking, tragic, and deeply disturbing.”
“NEF received the heartbreaking news of the barbaric, extra-judicial killing of innocent northern hunters who were returning home to celebrate the end of Ramadan and the Eid Kabir festival with their families in Uromi, Edo State,” Jiddere stated. “This heinous act is completely unacceptable, and we condemn it in the strongest terms.”
He emphasized that the North has endured repeated acts of violence from certain regions in the past and insisted that such incidents “must come to an end.”
NEF demanded immediate action, including:
The arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the attack.
Public prosecution of the perpetrators and those who aided the crime to ensure full transparency and accountability.
Compensation for the families of the victims, in accordance with their faiths.
An unreserved apology from the Edo State Government and its people, with a firm commitment to preventing such violence in the future.
“The Edo State Government must issue a formal apology to the North for this heinous attack,” the statement added. “The perpetrators must be punished publicly to serve as a deterrent against future incidents.”
The forum issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Edo State Government and the Federal Government to meet these demands.
“Failure to comply will compel the North to take all necessary actions to seek justice for its people,” NEF warned.
The group also called on the Nigerian government to ensure justice is served, stressing that accountability is crucial for maintaining peace, stability, and national unity.
