NEF Accuses Southern Nigeria Of Attack, Afenifere Reacts

Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has cried out over what it relates to as deliberate targeting against northerners in the southern part of Nigeria.

The NEF Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said this in a statement titled, ‘The need to protect northerners in the South.’

The statement read in part, “The forum calls for immediate stop of attacks and harassment of northerners in many southern communities.”

According to him, there have been “reported killings, destruction and stealing of property belonging to northerners and other assaults, which had been going on for days”.

Ahmed, therefore, called on northerners in the South to “compile a verifiable inventory of lives and property lost, and approach relevant authorities for appropriate restitution.”

While reacting to the accusation, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere warned the northern elders to be careful about statements that could inflame passion.

“Our friends in NEF should be more careful about statements that can inflame passion. We make this appeal, not out of fear, but a deep sense of responsibility and the understanding of the place of elders.

“Our utterances should bring calm at this delicate period,” the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin said.