The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has felicitated with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the month-long Ramadan fast.
The forum warned northerners against retaliation and called for peace in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, in Kaduna on Sunday.
The ACF acknowledged that this year’s celebrations will be subdued due to the prevailing challenges facing the country.
“This year’s celebrations will be muted due to existential challenges and tough standards of living that make merriment difficult. Insurgency, terrorism, and banditry continue to challenge citizens in Northern states more than other places,” the statement read.
The group, however, condemned the recent killing of 16 people in Edo State who were travelling across the state.
“Only a day ago, Nigeria witnessed the gruesome and senseless murder of 16 Northerners in Edo State as they were passing through, going home from Rivers State, for the Sallah celebrations.
“The tragic incident at Uromi, Edo State, cannot be isolated from the pattern of ethnic profiling and vigilante meted out to Northerners as they seek to eke out livelihoods in southern Nigeria,” the statement said.
“Only a few weeks ago, ACF drew attention to the phenomenon of attacks and fatal harassment of trailer drivers conveying goods to and through roads in southeast Nigeria,” the statement read.
Despite these challenges, the ACF remains optimistic that Nigeria’s problems could be overcome through good governance, justice, equity, and hope.
“ACF believes that Nigeria’s problems are not insurmountable. Much can be achieved through the entrenchment of the principles of good governance in public policy formulation and implementation, such that justice, equity, and hope will prevail,” the statement said.
The ACF called on the Muslim Ummah and all citizens to continue praying for Nigeria and its leaders, as well as to exercise prudence, restraint, and patience as security agents work to combat criminality.
“ACF therefore calls on the Muslim Ummah and indeed all citizens to continue in prayers for Nigeria and its leaders, as well as calls for prudence, restraint, and patience as security agents fight to exterminate criminality in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Eid-El-Fitr: ACF Facilitates With Muslim, Warns Northerners Against Retaliation After Edo Killing is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
