Pondering the insecurity situation in the country, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has again asked President Muhammadu Buhari to act swiftly to put the situation in Nigeria under control, saying the country was being set on fire under his watch.
Spokesman of the group, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a Twitter post on Saturday night, said Nigerians living in any part of the country must be protected.
He also said there would be no attacks on Southerners living in the north as a response to the alleged attack on Northerners in the South.
“Attacking innocent southerners living in the north will not be the right response to attacks on Northerners in the South. We should demand that Nigerians, wherever they are, must be protected. President and governors, do something, NOW! They are setting the country on fire under you!”
NEF was apparently reacting to the continued outbreak of ethno-religious violence in Shasha area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital. On Saturday, one person died in the violence while 20 people, who were victims of the crisis, were buried on Sunday.
The property of residents and wares of traders in Shasha market were also destroyed, following which Governor Seyi Makinde ordered the market shut.
Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, and chairman of South West Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, have condemned the violence in Ibadan, warning that the crisis could spread to other parts of the country.
Also, there has been rising tension over the activities of herdsmen in the South-West. Some herders have been accused of killings and kidnappings in the region.
On Sunday, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore said it will retaliate the killing of herders in any part of the country.
