Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday condemned the recently killings in Adamawa and Kaduna states.
The Forum, in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Anthony N. Z. Sani, described the killings as “unfortunate and desecration” of human sanctity.
The statement said: “The recent attacks on Chakawa village where a Christian cleric and innocent people were killed in Adamawa state, as well the killing of Sheikh Auwal Albani and some members of his family in Zaria were killed, all by gunmen is ungodly. Ungodly because few things are less pleasing to God when innocent lives are killed in His name. That is why ACF condemns such dastardly acts and calls on the perpetrators to put an end to violence in the larger interest of humanity.”
It added: “It is the considered opinion of ACF that since violent killing of innocent people has never addressed perceived grievance anyway in the world, resort to violence in Nigeria for whatever purpose cannot deliver their desired results. Only constructive engagement can address any perceived grievances.
“More so, in a democracy that recognizes not only majority but also minority rights. It is against this backdrop that ACF appeals to all perpetrators of violence to lay down their arms and embrace civilised and Godly ways of solving problems, however, defined.”
The forum also appealed to security agencies to brace up and face the challenges head on, saying: “ACF wishes to appeal to our intelligence community to brace up with a view to helping the security agents nib any such planned attacks from the bud. May God provide those who lost their loved ones and property with the fortitude to bear the losses.”