The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has issued a strong statement demanding urgent action from both the Edo State and federal governments regarding the recent killing of northern travelers in Uromi, Edo State.
The forum outlined three key demands, warning that the northern region would no longer tolerate such violent incidents from any part of Southern Nigeria.
NEF’s spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jiddere, conveyed these demands in an official statement released over the weekend. According to the forum, those responsible for the tragic killing of 16 northern travelers in Uromi must be arrested and prosecuted in a transparent and public manner to ensure justice is served.
Furthermore, the NEF insisted that both the Edo State government and the people of Uromi must issue an unreserved public apology. This apology, they argued, should come with a firm commitment to preventing such incidents in the future.
The third demand from the forum emphasized compensation for the families of the victims, in accordance with prescribed standards. The NEF stated that justice must include financial redress to help alleviate the suffering of those left behind by the victims of the mob attack.
In a firm ultimatum, the NEF gave the Edo State and federal authorities a two-week deadline to meet these demands. Failure to do so, they warned, would result in consequences, though they did not specify what actions they would take if their demands were not met.
The statement read in part: “The North has endured numerous acts of aggression from certain quarters in Southern Nigeria, and this must come to an end. We demand the immediate arrest and trial of all those responsible for the attack and the brutal killing of innocent travelers. Their prosecution must be conducted publicly to ensure full accountability.”
It further stated: “Compensation must be duly paid to the bereaved families in accordance with the prescribed religious and customary practices. Additionally, the Edo State Government must issue an official and unreserved apology to the North for this heinous act, along with a clear commitment to ensuring such atrocities never happen again.”
Reports indicate that the slain travelers were on their way from Port Harcourt to Kano for the Sallah celebrations when they were tragically killed. The mob attack has triggered widespread outrage across Nigeria, with various stakeholders condemning the act.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the killings. Additionally, northern governors issued a strongly worded condemnation, describing the extrajudicial killings as entirely unacceptable.
The National Assembly, northern senators, and youth groups have also voiced their concerns, demanding swift justice. Many have called for stricter measures to prevent further occurrences of such attacks and ensure the protection of citizens, regardless of their regional or ethnic backgrounds.
As tensions rise over this incident, the federal and state governments are under increasing pressure to take decisive action and prevent any potential escalation of hostilities between different regions of the country.
