The Northern Elders’ Forum has condemned the unwarranted killing of travellers in Jos, Plateau while calling for restraint among communities.
This is contained in a statement issued by the forum’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Baba-Ahmed, in spite of the heightened insecurity in parts of Northern Nigeria ‘’this particular incident is an outrageous provocation and it compounds the deteriorating community relations in many parts of the region.
“We have taken note of the statement of President Muhammadu Buhari and the steps taken by the Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong. These reactions should be able to produce immediate results in arrest and prosecutions.
“This heinous crime should not be ignored or treated as routine.
“While condoling families of those murdered, the forum appeals to all communities to show the highest level of restraint and tolerance.
“Killings and reprisals only endanger lives of more people, most of them innocent.
“We invite attention of leaders at all levels to the increasing vulnerability of Nigerians to armed criminality and deteriorating relations among many communities,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He emphasised that it was important that the citizens were made to feel safer and more secured.
The National Daily reports that scores of travellers were attacked over the weekend in Jos in which some lost their lives, while others sustained various degrees of injuries.