Borno Massacre: Northern Elders Fume, Call For Buhari Resignation


The Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, says lives of Nigerians under President Muhammadu Buhari have become worthless.

The forum asked the Buhari to step down over his glaring inability to secure lives and properties of the citizens.

In a statement by drector of Publicity and Advocacy of the Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the forum said the appropriate thing for the president to do is to resign since he can no longer guarantee safety of Nigerians lives.

The forum also berated the presidency over its response to Boko Haram killing of over 40 rice farmers in Borno State.

Garba Shehu, spokesperson for the president, had said the the farmers were killed because they did not get military clearance before going to their farms.

Baba-Ahmed, in a statement described Shehu’s remark as ‘most insensitive’.

The statement reads: “Northern Elders Forum (NEF) joins Nigerians in expressing outrage at the killings of farmers in Borno State and many other people on a daily basis in many parts of the North. Our voices have been raised without pause for a long time against pervasive insecurity in our region.

“These particular killings have been greeted by the most insensitive response by spokespersons of the President. The lame excuse that farmers had not sought permission from the military to harvest produce merely exposed the misleading claims that our military had secured vast territories from the insurgency.

“Under this administration, life has lost its value, and more and more citizens are coming under the influence of criminals.We do not see any evidence of a willingness on the part of President Buhari to honour his oath to provide security over Nigerians.

“In civilized nations, leaders who fail so spectacularly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign.”