TheCable

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says the north will no longer tolerate violence against its people in the southern region of the country.

Speaking during a town hall meeting with members of the northern community in Port Harcourt, Ango Abdullahi, NEF chairman, said the elders visited the state to commiserate with northerners who were attacked during the #EndSARS protests.

He said northerners in the state suffered “enormous loss of lives and assets” during the protest.

He added that people should be able to live anywhere irrespective of their ethnicity and religion.

“We came because we saw no reason innocent residents where ever they are irrespective of where they come from who are not participating in the protest will be subjected to violence. They suffered enormous violence and loss of lives and assets of various magnitude, “he said.

“What was surprising to us was that those that perpetrated the violence against northerners are the same people who are crying more and calling for compensation other than those, who suffered the consequences.

“We take particular delight when we talked with the governor of the state. We were told by residents of Rivers state that the governor was particularly interested in protecting them and their rights as he swore in his oath of office.

“We are not sure what name really they want to keep. They come with different brands, they use this name to perpetrated criminality in different parts of the country.

“It is up to the authorities to assure all of us that this must end. This must stop. I think the north will no longer allow this red line to be crossed. It is because people get away with criminal behaviour without sanctions and punishment that is why they keep recycling these irresponsible behaviour.”

He added that the forum will head to the south-east to speak with governors in the region ” to remind them of their responsibility to protect residents irrespective of where they come from in their areas of responsibility”.

“Failure to do so, especially, on this continuous bases, it will be difficult for all of us who have been restraining our various communities, especially, our youths to protect others when their brethren are being killed and maimed in other parts of the country, “he said.