Anambra killings: We have had enough – JNI

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has said it has had enough of the senseless killings of innocent people. Militants of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had on Sunday in Anambra killed a woman, her four children, and six others – all from the North. They were killed at Isulo, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

JNI in a statement by its Secretary-General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, described the killing as “barbaric and unprovoked”. 

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The group said the lexis of the so-called “unknown gunmen” was no longer tenable saying, they are known but ignored.

“We have had enough, so it should be left for what is enough! Moreover, as we have always stated in our similar press releases, governments should be seen as swiftly acting on security related issues, as it is its primary constitutional responsibility to protect, secure and provide welfare to citizens, as enunciated on the second schedule of the 1999 amended Constitution.

“JNI has painfully, with dismay been observing the orchestrated unchecked atrocities dished out to many innocent Muslim menial traders’ wares, including animals. The attitude, in effect, depicts the most unfortunate high level of hatred and impunity. The JNI feels that it was high time the governments acted lest things get out of hand,” the statement read.

The organisation commiserated with the families of the victims of serial killings and abductions in Nigeria and implored the federal government to live up to its responsibility of protecting lives.

While observing that the killings were now transforming into being more religious and ethnic/tribal, JNI urged Nigerians to learn from different historical accounts.

JNI said, “Government must spare no efforts to immediately take control of all forests and swampy areas that have become hideouts for criminals and constitute a joint task force to specially attend to the rising tide of killings in Southeastern Nigeria.

“Governments at all levels should act beyond mere verbal condemnations on security related matters and the Southeastern states’ governments and governors, as well as community leaders over there should be seen and heard condemning and assuaging fears and tension within their respective states and communities (as the case may be) as silence would not be golden, in so unfortunate a situation.”