The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has blown hot over the killing of northern hunters in Uromi, Edo state, saying that the North has tolerated enough and will no longer condone such acts.

NEF made the position known through Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, spokesperson of the Forum.

In a statement, on Saturday, he said,  “NEF received the shocking, sad, and deeply disturbing news of the barbaric, extra-judicial, and cowardly killing of innocent Northern hunters who were returning home to celebrate the end of Ramadan and Eid Kabir Sallah festival with their families in Uromi, Edo State. This heinous act is totally unacceptable, and we condemn it in the strongest terms.

“The North has tolerated numerous acts of recklessness from some Southern part of Nigeria in the past. This must come to an end.

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“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 behavior never occurs again. An unreserved apology from the Edo State Government to the North for this heinous attack on its people. The punishment of the perpetrators must be witnessed by the public to serve as a deterrent to any such future acts of violence.”

The NEF also demanded that the Edo State Government and the Federal Government take concrete and visible steps to fulfill these demands within fourteen (14) days from the date of the release.

“Failure to do so will compel the North to take all necessary actions to seek justice for her people and the North,” it added.

It further called on the Federal Government to ensure that justice is served to the victims and their families to preserve peace, stability, and the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians.