By Monsuru Olowoopejo

Lagos—ETHNIC Nationalities in the country, including self-determination groups, Civil Society Organizations as well as professional and youth associations converged in Lagos recently to discuss the rising spate of killings across the country, especially the communal clashes, farmers/herders conflicts and attacks by bandits in Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and across at least eight other states of the country.

At the end of the two day intensive deliberations, the well-attended meeting convened by the National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Mallam Yerima Usman Yerima, resolved in a communiqué to give a two-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari and all the stakeholders in the Nigerian project to act decisively to avoid the consequential backlash of overstressing citizen’s patience.

The communiqué was jointly signed by AYCF President, Mallam Shettima; National President, Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Iziogosoro; Yoruba Youth Council, Eric Olawale, and President, Ijaw Youth Council and President, Ethnic Nationalities of Niger Delta, Barrister Pereotubo R. Oweilaemi.

The communiqué reads in part: “Nigeria, Africa and indeed the entire world may not be able to cope with the consequences of a full-blown religious or ethnic war in Nigeria which the current dangerous trend portends.

“We, therefore, call on Nigerian elders, leaders of thought, theological and cultural leaders and all our international friends to step in quickly and save the situation as any further delay could be dangerous.”