BEVERLY HILLS, July 17, (THEWILL) – The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has asked herdsmen in the southern part of the country to relocate if their safety is no longer guaranteed.
The coalition had threatened to evict southerners over the federal government’s suspension of Ruga and also gave governors ultimatum to reconsider the Ruga initiative.
Speaking after a meeting with the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNGs), Ango Abdullahi, chairman of the forum, said there was a move by some “trouble elements” to harm herdsmen in the southern part of the country.
Abdullahi appealed to security agencies to pay attention to what is happening to herdsmen “hour-to-hour, day-to-day basis”.
“We have heard in the few hours ago that some violence had already started to manifest in some sections of the country against the herdsmen, who for all know that would affect peaceful coexistence in the communities where they have lived for many years,” Abdullahi said.
“Now, certainly, we are worried about their safety, like we are worried about the safety of every Nigerian who decided to live wherever they want to.
“But then, if there is no certainty that their safety is guaranteed by the authorities that are immediately around them or by the authorities that has responsibility for the overall security of all Nigerians wherever they reside, we are certainly worried about their well-being.
“If it is indeed true that their safety is not guaranteed in the places where they are residing, we would rather have them back into areas where there safety is guaranteed, and they should be coming back as much as possible to the north.”
He said the forum is making efforts to ensure that everything must be done to avoid escalation of violence that will lead to the break down of law and order in the country.
