Christian group: Killings in Benue, Taraba worrisome | Security forces should go after attackers

The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) says the recent killings in Benue, Taraba, and the southern part of Kaduna have appeared to be President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s parting gift.

In a statement on Monday in Kaduna, Ejoga Inalegwu, chairman of the forum, said despite the security architecture in the three states, mass killings and destructions by suspected bandits were being perpetrated without any counter-offensive from the government forces. 

On Saturday, 32 people were killed while 30 houses were burnt in an attack by suspected bandits on a community in Zangon Kataf LGA in the southern part of Kaduna state.

On April 8, no fewer than 74 people were reportedly killed in Benue state in two separate attacks by gunmen. 

Inalegwu urged the security forces to checkmate the ugly trend by going after those behind the “wicked acts”.

“NOSCEF is worried that the recent increasing wave of unchecked and persistent killings in Benue, Taraba, and Southern Kaduna by bandits/ herdsmen are seeming to look like the parting gift, of the Buhari administration to our people as it rounds up its 8-year rule,” the statement reads. 

“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.”