The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has called on security agencies to stop the attacks and mass killings by bandits in Benue, Taraba and the southern part of Kaduna state.
In a statement on Monday in Kaduna, chairman of the forum, Ejoga Inalegwu, condemned the killings, noting that despite the security architecture in place, mass killings and wanton destructions by bandits were being perpetrated in communities in the three states without any counter from the security forces.
He called on the security forces to checkmate the ugly trend by going after those behind the wicked act.
The statement said, “NOSCEF is worried that the recent increasing wave of unchecked and persistent killings in Benue, Taraba and Southern Kaduna by bandits/ herdsmen is seeming to look like the parting gift, of the Buhari administration to our people as it rounds up its 8-year rule.
“We are shocked that, with the security architecture in place, such wanton killings in such magnitude, can be perpetrated without any counter from the security forces.
“We are therefore calling on the security forces to checkmate the ugly trend and go after those terrorizing, killing, maiming people and destroying properties of citizens.
“We also appeal to all Nigerians to pray for God’s intervention in bringing to an end the new wave of killings across the states.”
On April 8, no fewer than 74 people were reportedly killed in Benue state in two separate attacks by gunmen.
In Taraba state over 50 people were reportedly killed in attacks that lasted for days by invading herdsmen.
On Saturday, 32 people were killed while 30 houses were burnt in an attack by suspected herdsmen on a community in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area in the southern part of Kaduna state.
