The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has asked Abia State government to take proactive measures in securing the lives and properties of Northerners in its domain, rather than acting after they had been attacked and killed.
The Arewa elders’ reaction might not be unconnected to the recent attack on Northern traders in Abia State. ACF Spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, in a statement, said: “We will like to commend Abia State government and Police for their prompt reaction to the attack on the new Abia Cattle Market in Omuma Ozo.
We have been informed that immediately after the attack in which eight people and some cattle died, there was response from the relevant authorities. We have also been assured that security measures will be put in place to protect lives and property in the future.”
Yawe, however, called on the government and security agencies to be proactive in saving lives of innocent citizens instead of reacting when valuable lives were already lost.
“We sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and properties, urging them to remain calm as the government has promised to look into their plights. Those who have lost loved ones should not take the laws into their hands.
“As the cause of the deadly attack is yet to be established, we call on security agencies to speed up investigations so that the confidence of the bereaved families is maintained,” ACF stated
