Northern youths under the umbrella of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) have expressed deep concern over the continued killing of innocent Nigerians, especially in states in the North Central zone, despite the presidency’s promise to stop the mayhem.
Northern youths under the umbrella of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) have expressed deep concern over the continued killing of innocent Nigerians, especially in states in the North Central zone, despite the presidency’s promise to stop the mayhem.
Of “most worrisome and painful” development, they regretted, was the onslaught on people in Plateau State with hundreds of them killed.
In a press statement AYF issued on Tuesday in Kaduna by its National President, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, the group declared that the pathetic situation signified that the present government had failed.
Gujungu said: “Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) is seriously worried and concerned about the unnecessary and avoidable loss of lives in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South local government areas of Plataeu State.
“It is quite unfortunate that human lives are being lost almost on a weekly basis in Nigeria, mainly in northern parts of the country and the government is carrying on as if nothing is wrong in the country.
“We are worried because AYF is of the view that this killing is avoidable if the government rises to the occasion of its primary responsibility to Nigerians which is the protection of life’s and property,” he said.
The youths who described the situation as “very bad” said the happening “is a sign of the failure of government, a government that campaigned and promised to tackle insecurity in the country.”
They recalled that it was because of the promise made to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians that voters elected President Muhmmadu Buhari on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“It is quite unfortunate that after voting for the APC government, what we are witnessing now with this government is worse than what happened in 2015 before Nigerians voted out the previous government,” AYF regretted.
The forum enjoined the government to “act fast and deal with the situation before it is too late,” stressing that “a situation where Nigerians are now feeling unsafe in their homes is not good for us as a people and for peaceful coexistence.
“In particular, we are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil his promise of bringing lasting solution to the killings across the country.
“The President had come out to say that desperate politicians are behind the killings. We are challenging him to immediately arrest those behind the killings or stop the blame game and get to work,” AYF said.
Apparently realising that the situation is beyond Nigerians and of course, the present administration, the concerned youths said that “we want to use this opportunity to call on the United Nations (UN) and the international community to urgently intervene. Assist us in arresting this drift towards anarchy. The present administration has shown lack of will and capacity to tackle the menace.
“Apart from Plateau State, killings are taking place across the country, in Adamawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba among other states. Much as we condemn these wicked acts, enough is enough of the bloodshed,” Gujungu warned.
