The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has condemned reported attacks on Northerners in the southern part of the country.
The Forum, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director General II, Salisu Mohammed, called on President Bola Tinubu and relevant security agencies to intervene over the issue in order not to endanger the country.
The NEF made the call in reaction to a widely circulated video on social media where suspected militias of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) killed hundreds of cattle that belonged to northerners.
“The despicable and condemnable act was recorded and circulated across social media platforms.
“The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has observed with concern that in the last three months, some criminals have stepped up harassment and attacks on northerners moving about their legitimate businesses in southern Nigeria, particularly in the South East.
” The NEF has condemned these acts of provocation in totality against innocent citizens who chose to do their activities in that part of the country.
“The NEF calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant security agencies to rise to the occasion and contain these criminals, not to allow them to subvert and undermine national cohesion and togetherness,” parts of the statement read.
Lamenting the brazing act by elements bent on testing the elasticity of the country’s diversity and unity, the NEF described such an act as sabotage against efforts to strengthen the bond of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the forum has distanced itself from a statement credited to the body on the alleged threat to withdraw support for Tinubu in the 2027 election.
“The attention of NEF has been drawn to a statement credited to the Forum by the media that the North regrets voting for President Bola Tinubu. NEF wishes to distance itself from the statement, as it did not emanate from the forum as it is the opinion of the person in his personal capacity and not that of NEF.
“Thus, the statement credited to NEF does not reflect the position of the Forum as it has never sat and assessed the performance or non-performance of the Tinubu administration.
” Similarly, NEF has never discussed, in any time, the politics of 2027, nor has it deliberated on who to support or not to support on such issues.
” The NEF considers it too early to be engaged in such distractions when NEF, like most Nigerians, are demanding good governance and dividends of democracy.
“NEF, for now, prefers to, focus on advocating for what improves the northern region and Nigeria as a whole.
” In conclusion, the NEF charges leaders to always verify and authenticate information and treat issues within their specific contexts before making public pronouncements,” the statement added.
