Tackle killings in Southern Kaduna, group tells FG

The Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa Worldwide has raised concerns over the rising killings in Southern Kaduna, urging the federal government to urgently tackle the situation.

In the statement on Wednesday by the group’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Oluwatosin Dixon, the NBM noted that without security, the pursuit of development will end a mirage, calling on Nigerians to rally around President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to stem the ugly tide.

• PODCAST: How Internal Wranglings Threaten To Tear PDP Apart
• DSS writes Olusegun Adeniyi, accuses him of misleading Nigerians

It condemned what it described as perceived ethnic cleansing by suspected extremists.

“We are appalled by news of Christians facing ethnic cleansing in Southern Kaduna and Christian students routinely kidnapped by suspected terrorists with predominantly Christian schools inevitably shut down.

“It becomes even more alarming when citizens contemplate a resort to self-help in the face of perceived dereliction of functions by the Nigerian government.

“In a most recent SOS, we note the disturbing call from youths of Southern Kaduna crying ‘It’s time to defend ourselves,’ where the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union National Youth Leader, Comrade John Isaac, condemned in strong terms alleged mindless attacks ongoing in Atyap land by suspected Fulani militia.

“Also worrying are statements by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union to the effect that over N2bn has been paid as ransom to kidnappers by families and friends in Southern Kaduna to kidnappers for the release of victims held in the captivity of suspected Fulani terrorists in the past one year.

“The organisation also expressed concerns that the deteriorating security situation in Southern Kaduna had not improved but continues on a downward spiral,” the statement said.

The NBM of Africa, therefore, pleaded with the federal government to provide adequate security and protection for the besieged Southern Kaduna communities and urged all the parties concerned to allow sanity to reign and begin peace talks, noting that only in such an atmosphere could development be achievable.