The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Saturday said it has received the shocking and disturbing news of extra-judicial killing of innocent northern hunters who were returning home to celebrate the end of Ramadan and Eid-el-Fitr Sallah festival with their families in Uromi, Edo state.
NEF in a statement through its spokesperson, Prof Abubakar Jika Jiddere, said the heinous act is totally unacceptable.
It said, “The north has tolerated numerous such acts in the past; so this must come to an end.
“Consequently, NEF hereby demands immediate actions from the authorities in Edo state and the federal government by recovering the bodies of the victims and their dignified transfer to their families for an honourable and befitting burial in accordance with their respective faiths.”
It also called for the arrest and trial of all individuals responsible for the attack.
“NEF demands a public prosecution of the perpetrators and those that aided the crime to ensure full transparency and accountability,” It said.
According to NEF, due payment of compensation to families of the victims in line with the prescribed standards of their respective faiths must be carried out within 14 days.
“The federal government must ensure that justice is served to the victims and their families to preserve peace, stability, and the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians,” the statement said.
NEF called on the families of the victims and the people of northern Nigeria to remain calm and patient as the matter is pursued responsibly with the necessary agencies and authorities of the government.