Northern Group Threatens Reprisals Over Uromi Killings, Urges Northerners to Return Home

The Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) has threatened reprisals across Northern states, including Abuja, following the killing of 16 Northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State. The group has also urged Northerners living in the South to return home, citing security concerns and a lack of protection from authorities.

In a statement released on Wednesday, CNF Chairman Alhaji Ali Muhammad condemned the attack and accused the government of failing to safeguard Northerners residing outside their region. He warned that if decisive action was not taken, retaliatory violence could erupt, stressing that no group has a monopoly on lawlessness.

The forum also criticized what it described as recurring targeted attacks and property destruction, claiming losses worth billions of Naira. It demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the Uromi killings to prevent further unrest.

While acknowledging Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s visit to Kano in response to the incident, the CNF dismissed it as inadequate. The group insisted that only concrete actions—justice for the victims and compensation for their families—would be acceptable.

The CNF urged all Northerners to return home, stating that their safety could no longer be guaranteed in the South. It also called on the government to take decisive measures to prevent future attacks, warning that continued inaction could lead to widespread reprisals.

The forum emphasized that Northerners have remained law-abiding and hospitable, yet continue to face violent attacks and property destruction. It called for an end to what it described as a dangerous pattern of violence against its people, insisting that justice must be served to restore peace and security.