The Northern Elders’ Forum has condemned the unwarranted killing of travelers in Jos, Plateau while calling for restraint among communities.
The condemnation is contained in a statement issued by the forum’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, on Tuesday.
According to Mr Baba-Ahmed, in spite of the heightened insecurity in parts of Northern Nigeria ‘’this particular incident is an outrageous provocation and it compounds the deteriorating community relations in many parts of the region.
The director said: “We have taken note of the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari and the steps taken by the Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong. These reactions should be able to produce immediate results in arrest and prosecutions.
“This heinous crime should not be ignored or treated as routine.
“While condoling families of those murdered, the forum appeals to all communities to show the highest level of restraint and tolerance.
“Killings and reprisals only endanger lives of more people, most of them innocent.
“We invite attention of leaders at all levels to the increasing vulnerability of Nigerians to armed criminality and deteriorating relations among many communities,” Mr Baba-Ahmed said.
He emphasized that it was important that the citizens were made to feel safer and more secured.
According to reports, scores of travelers were attacked over the weekend in Jos in which some lost their lives, while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
NAN
