The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Edo and federal governments to prosecute the killers of travelling hunters intercepted by members of a vigilante group in the state.
In a statement on Saturday, Abubakar Jiddere, the NEF spokesperson, said the punishment of the perpetrators must be witnessed by the public to serve as a deterrent to any such future acts of violence.
The forum also demanded the prompt retrieve of the victims’ bodies and handover to families for “honourable burials in line with their faiths”.
On Thursday, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Elele, Rivers state.
The Kano-bound travellers were attacked and lynched after some vigilante members raised the alarm, suspecting that they were kidnappers.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently ordered the police and security agencies to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Edo police command also announced the arrest of 14 suspects in connection with the incident.
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The NEF, while condemning the “barbaric, extra-judicial, and cowardly killing” of the hunters, said the north would “take stringent action in response to the inhumane attack on its peace-loving people”.
“The north has tolerated numerous such animalistic and cannibalistic acts of recklessness from some southern part of Nigeria in the past,” the statement reads.
“This must come to an end. The North will take stringent action in response to this inhumane attack on its peace-loving people.
“Consequently, the NEF hereby demands the following immediate actions from the authorities in Edo State and the Federal Government.
“The arrest and trial of all individuals responsible for the attack and the brutal killings of the innocent travellers.
“The NEF demands a public prosecution of the perpetrators and those that aided the crime to ensure full transparency and accountability.
“The due payment of compensation to the families of the victims, in line with the prescribed standards of their respective faiths.
“An unreserved apology from the people and authorities of Edo State, with a commitment to ensuring that such barbaric behaviour never occurs again.
“An unreserved apology from the Edo State Government to the North for this heinous attack on its people.
“Failure to do so will compel the North to take all necessary actions to seek justice for her people and the North.”
The NEF asked the federal government to ensure justice for the victims’ families to maintain peace while calling on northerners to stay calm while the authorities handle the matter.
