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Arewa youths, CNG condemn killing of Northerners in Abia

By Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna) and Ernest Nzor (Abuja)
17 February 2022   |   2:06 am
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed concern over the killing of some northerners in Abia State and other parts of the South East and commended the Abia State...

Yerima Shettima,

• Commend state govt, security operatives for intervention

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed concern over the killing of some northerners in Abia State and other parts of the South East and commended the Abia State government and security agencies for their intervention that brought the situation under control.

A statement issued yesterday by National President of AYCF, Yerima Shettima, in Kaduna, the group expressed deep concern over the killing of people, who he said, were doing legitimate businesses in the state.

“We are also deeply touched by the report of scores of others sustaining various degrees of injuries and have been hospitalised. We condemn the dastardly attack on innocent citizens of northern extraction.

“We commend security agencies and the Abia State government for their prompt response in going after the killers and taking the injured ones to the hospital,” the statement reads.

Shettima urged the Abia State government to fulfill its promise to arrest and prosecute the killers in the spirit of national unity and stability.”

Abia State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo, confirmed the attack, saying: “On Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 11:35p.m., some yet to be identified hoodlums invaded the New Cattle Market in Omumauzor, Ukwa West Council of the state”.

“Government responded swiftly by mobilising security operatives to the scene to secure the lives and property of traders and arrest the assailants.

“This was followed this morning by a high-powered team, comprising the Chief of Staff (COS) to the Governor, Prof. A. C. B. Agbazuere, Commissioner for Trade and Investment, John Okiyi Kalu, Commissioner for Homeland Security, Sopuruchi Bekee, Chairman of Ukwa West Council, Okey Kanu and the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Janet Agbede.”

MEANWHILE, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has reacted to the alleged attack by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), saying: “Enough is enough of the killing of northerners in the South East region.”

It said the attack was another attempt by the Igbo to cause greater conflict in the country by goading the North into reacting in the same manner.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its Spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the group urged the state government to act quickly in arresting and prosecuting the culprits and warned that the North would no longer tolerate unwarranted attacks on its people living in the South East or any other part of the country.

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