The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has condemned Friday’s deadly attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State in which civil war hero and former member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), Gen. Muhammadu Shuwa, was killed by gunmen.
The governors repeated their appeal for dialogue instead of the use force in seeking redress.? In a statement he issued in Minna yesterday, the forum’s chairman and governor of Niger State, Alhaji Muazu Babangida Aliyu, described the attack and murder of Gen. Shuwa as “one too many” and urged terrorists in the country to cease hostility and embrace dialogue.
Aliyu expressed the forum’s deepest condolences to the families of Gen. Shuwa as well as families of 40 other people reportedly killed in similar attacks on Thursday night.
The statement was signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo. He said no grievance could justify such dastardly acts against innocent people, adding that “it is sad that a committed Nigerian like Gen. Shuwa who gave everything for the unity of the Nigeria could be killed in such a gruesome manner.”
The statement however added that the forum applauded the Federal Government’s acceptance of the offer for negotiation by Boko Haram, expressing the hope that the initiative will usher in peace, security and tranquillity in the country after years of unnecessary bloodletting.
“It is our fervent belief that dialogue, rather than the use of force, would help find a lasting solution to the worsening insecurity of life and property in the country,” the forum declared
The governors pledged their continued cooperation with the Federal Government on the issue of national security while praying to God to grant the souls of Gen. Shuwa and others who were killed in the attacks eternal rest and their families and the government of Borno State the fortitude to bear the loss.