The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) said Wednesday that killings of Nigerian soldiers must not be allowed to continue, describing it as a condemnable act.
Disturbed by the recent killings of 12 soldiers in Benue state, the chairman of the forum and governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, while sympathising with the Nigerian Army over the killing of the 12 soldiers in Konshisha LGA, Benue state, said: “Such must not be allowed to happen again as it is capable of demoralising security personnel from giving their best to fighting insecurity in the country.”
The statement issued, Tuesday night by Lalong’s director of press, Dr Makut Macham, said the forum sympathises with the families of the slain soldiers and the Nigerian Army over the unfortunate incident, which occurred when the soldiers were on an assignment to ensure the security of lives and properties.
“The forum urges the army not to be discouraged by the act and to continue carrying out their legitimate duty of defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and assisting in maintaining internal security, particularly at this time when the nation is confronted by many criminal activities,” Lalong said.
While pledging its continued support and collaboration to the Armed Forces and the security services in general, the governors appealed to the Army to remain professional and exercise caution and restraint even as they work hard to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
