The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has said it supports the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria to withdraw food supply to the south unless the Federal Government meets their demands.
According to reports, the group had earlier demanded compensation for the death of its members as well as properties destroyed during the EndSars protest in October 2020.
The group said it’s in alignment with Sheikh Gumi in his call for amnesty for Bandits. You would recall that the prominent scholar recently advised the government to extend amnesty to bandits across the nation as was done with the Niger-Delta militants.
According to reports, the CNG has condemned the alleged attacks on some Northerners residing in the Southern part of the country. The group has expressed worry over the existing silence of international bodies over the attacks.
However, the spokesman of the group Abdul-Azeez Suleiman had urged the society to rehabilitate repentant bandits who had accepted to embrace peace.
In his words, “We align directly with Sheikh Ahmed Gumi’s position with regards to constructive engagement, an opportunity for amnesty leading to reorientation, reintegration and re-assimilation of those who embrace peace within a reasonable timeframe after which, the resort can be made to force in crushing the recalcitrant north
“In this regard, we urge the Sheikh and his team not to be distracted by the forces of destabilization within and outside the North while calling for an expanded framework “with the involvement of all willing northern Governors and other significant components of the northern society to achieve final demobilization and disarmament.
“Successive governments have found it expeditious to establish structures like OMPADEC, NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta, the Amnesty Programme, etc aimed at resolving a specific set of challenges affecting specific communities in the South. There is therefore no justification whatsoever to resist, or even question the extension of similar special initiatives to address the needs of herdsmen if these will lead to lasting peace and stability.
The CNG further urged the Federal Government to put in place a solid guarantee for the future safety of Northerners in the South.
