Tension: Northern groups tell Buhari what he must do to IPOB, Niger Delta militants

– A coalition of northern groups lamented that northerners are treated like parasites in other region

– The group called on the federal government to take serious action against violent groups

– The group said the north has contributed to Nigeria’s development

Coalition of northern groups under the auspices of Northern Consensus Movement has sent a strong message to the President Buhari-led federal government to give the same fierce treatment given to Boko Haram to separatist groups and militants.

The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has been at the forefront of the agitation for an independent Biafra state with some of their confrontation leading to violence.

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The Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for the bombing of gas and oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region as a way to force the government to respond to their agitations.

Leadership reports that the 10 groups making up the movement are: Arewa Liberation Movement, United Arewa Youth Organisation, Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Northern People Unity and Reconciliation Union, Amalgamated Northern Youth for North Central, Northern Youth Assembly, Salvage Nigeria Forum among others.

At a press conference in Kaduna on Saturday, May 21, the coalition urged the federal government to treat violent groups like Boko Haram.

“All groups including separatist elements that use violence as an instrument of expression of grievance, such as, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) should be given same treatment as Boko Haram.”

Comrade Jibrila Gadzama who is the leader of the movement lamented that northerners were treated like parasites in other regions of the country despite the fact that they hosted and accommodated people of other region in their states.

“The North contributed immensely to Nigeria’s foreign reserve earnings through agriculture even before the discovery of petroleum in Nigeria. Our groundnut pyramid era shouldn’t be forgotten so soon.

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“Regrettably, despite the critical role played by the North and northerners, we have observed growing tendencies of attacks on our brothers living in the south-eastern part of the country by southerners with virulent separatist sentiments.”

Meanwhile, President Buhari once again urged the militant groups, aggrieved persons and communities to drop weapons and sit down at the negotiating table primarily for the review of the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Yar’Adua administration.

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