The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, on Wednesday, condemned in strong terms the horrifying carnage and bloodletting going on in the North and other parts of Nigeria.
The group of elders, who held an extraordinary meeting in Abuja to deliberate on critical issues concerning the organization and the nation, seeks an immediate and complete end to the unfortunate incidents.
A statement by the Chairman, Implementation Committee of the forum, Mohammed Bello Kirfi, said they wanted to see a total end to killings associated with the insurgency and farmers/herdsmen clashes.
“We will work with government, other community and civil society organizations, traditional rulers, political leaders and the clergy to ensure that peace returns to the North and to Nigeria.
“We would also like to see the introduction and application of modern livestock management practices in order to protect herdsmen and farmers, their families and communities, and enhance their quality of life,” the forum emphasised.
At the end of deliberations, the NEF approved the new structure and also appointed the following new officers to run the organization.
The statement said Ango Abdullahi remained the Chairman BOT/Convener of the Forum, Sani Zangon Daura as Deputy Chairman North West, Paul C. Tarfa as Deputy Chairman North East and Yahaya Kwande as Deputy Chairman North Central.
The forum has also ratified the appointment of the already existing 21 members of the Board of Trustees and appointed the management board.
The members of the board include Mohammed Goni – Chairman of the Management Board, Patrick Adaba – Vice Chairman, Yima Sen – Director General/CEO, Hakeem Baba Ahmed – Director/ Member, Sam Nda Isiah – Director/ Member.
Others are: Bashir Sodangi, Sale Maina (rtd), Bitrus Dangiwa, Sulaiman Bogoro and N. A. Shariff, M. B. Wali, Bello Suleiman, Sani Aminu Dutsinma, Safiya Illiyasu and Halen Jekelle.
