By Jane Okeke
A Group of Concerned Northerners has strongly condemned the recent brutal killing of 16 northern travelers in Uromi, Edo State, calling for immediate justice and an end to such heinous acts.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairperson of the group, Hajia Najatu Muhammad, lamented the “disgusting and savage” massacre, comparing it to the brutality of the ancient Roman Empire. She emphasized that such barbaric acts against northerners would no longer be tolerated.
“The nation woke up on 28th March to the horrifying news of the gruesome massacre of about 16 people from the northern part of the country in the most disgusting and savage manner reminiscent of the barbarians of the old Roman Empire,” Hajia Muhammad stated. She added, “We have noted that since the event, leaders have issued the usual condemnations and security agencies have announced investigations, but reckless local champions have continued to insult the North and spread lies.”
She warned that the killing of northerners, under various pretexts, had become all too common. “This is not the first time northerners have been targeted and killed. We recall events such as the Mile 12 Crisis in March 2016, the massacre of Hausa traders in Port Harcourt in the same year, the Akure Market killings in December 2019, and more recently, the killings in Oyo and Imo states in 2021,” she recounted.
“The North is not stupid. We can no longer allow a situation where our people are hunted down like animals while the same tribes are welcomed in the North and allowed to thrive,” she added.
Hajia Muhammad also criticized the failure of successive governments to protect citizens, stating, “This government and the ones it succeeded have shown that they neither have the will nor the capacity to deal with threats to human life. The country has become a killing zone as they sit there, supervising the sharing of resources meant for citizens’ welfare and security.”
She reminded the government of its constitutional duty, asserting, “Human life comes first in the hierarchy of human needs. The government has sworn to uphold the Constitution, but they have failed. The excuses for their failures are no longer tenable, and citizens will not continue to tolerate them.”
The Chairperson also voiced concern over the growing tensions, saying the attacks on northerners had amplified the national question. “If Northerners are still citizens of Nigeria, they must be accorded the rights and privileges of citizens in every part of the country. If not, then we are no longer obliged to obey the social contract.”
Hajia Muhammad called for calm, urging northern youths to refrain from retaliation, and demanded the prosecution of those responsible for the killings and compensation for the victims’ families.
“We appeal to our youth for restraint. We will closely monitor the investigation, the prosecution of those arrested, and the compensation to the victims’ families,” she said.
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalong, who also spoke at the event, echoed the need for the government to fulfill its constitutional responsibility. He pointed out that such killings have become a pattern, emphasizing the group’s demand for justice.
“We are appealing to the restive youths of the North, who are calling for reprisal,” Dalong said. “This is not just a mere press conference; we are going to send our demand letter to the Edo State government. A transparent investigation will lead to accountability, and this will be the last time we will gather to discuss this issue,” he declared.
The group remains steadfast in its call for justice and an end to the cycle of violence against northerners in various parts of Nigeria.
