The CNG in a statement on Saturday noted that over Nigerian police and army personnel had been killed at their duty posts by gunmen in the region as part of the agitations to free the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), an amalgamation of several groups in Northern Nigeria, has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to “intensify ongoing action to disband all militias and armed groups in the South East.”
The CNG in a statement on Saturday noted that over Nigerian police and army personnel had been killed at their duty posts by gunmen in the region as part of the agitations to free the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The CNG spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in the release said, “The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has taken stock of events unfolding in Nigeria, noting especially, the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East, ignited and incessantly fanned and executed through the force of arms and terrorist tactics by authors of mindless violence and separatism.
"CNG has carefully watched and studied these events and actions being perpetrated against the Nigerian state, against Nigerians collectively, and against northerners in particular, with considerable restraint and maturity.
"In the South-East and parts of South-South, several police personnel and innocent citizens were massacred, prisons vandalised and inmates set free.
"Not less than 22 policemen, seven soldiers and 59 innocent civilians were killed in October 2020 according to the toll announced by the then President Muhammadu Buhari during an emergency meeting with former Nigerian leaders.
"According to the IG at that time, 205 critical national security assets, corporate facilities and private property were attacked, burnt or vandalised with 10 firearms including eight AK 47 rifles stolen.
"In Lagos coordinated attacks, IPOB hoodlums in Lagos State started their activities by attacking peaceful #EndSARS protesters and innocent citizens and destroying assets resulting in:
"How would the relations of the over 500 personnel of the various paramilitary organs who were indiscriminately attacked and killed while on duty posts at various checkpoints feel?”
"As the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces; what words would Mr President use to encourage and retain other officers and men of the various forces? We call on the Federal Government to intensify ongoing action to disband all militias and armed groups in the South-East and other parts of Nigeria, by resort to the use of force if needs be, to ensure that no group has the capacity to challenge the state in its prerogative to maintain law and order, and protect citizens' lives and properties," the statement added.