The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has advised terrorists perpetrating gruesome killings in parts of the country to change the strategy and “seek a civilised way of addressing their grievance rather than killing innocent people who do not even understand what they are fighting for.”

The call was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna and signed by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, in which the group condemned the second Nyanya bomb blast of May 1.

The statement said: “It was with shock and disbelief that ACF learnt of another bomb blast at Nyanya, a town in the outskirts of Abuja, the Federal Capital. It would be recalled that barely two weeks ago, there was a bomb blast at the same Nyanya where about 70 people lost their lives and over 120 people sustained various injuries.

“It is sad and unfortunate that Nyanya town has now become a target for the terrorists in our midst to unleash their wicked act against innocent souls and humanity in general.

“Bomb blast, killings, kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property by enemies of Nigeria in whatever form is a serious security challenge to us as a Nation and we must all unite against them. The recent second bomb blast at Nyanya was cruel, gruesome and horrible.

“ACF therefore calls on the perpetrators of these evils to seek a civilised way of addressing their grievance rather than killing innocent people who do not even understand what they are fighting for.

“ACF also calls the Governments to install security gadgets especially in our urban towns that can pick and track down perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Furthermore, suspects arrested in connection with similar crimes should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others rather than keeping them in perpetual detention without trial.

“On the issue of the Chibok school girls that were abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents 18 days ago, ACF wishes to commend Nigerians especially women and civil liberty organisations who came out in their thousands defying all odds to protest and express their anger and displeasure on the unfortunate incident.

“ACF calls on Government to intensify effort in securing the release of the abducted girls to assuage the grief and fears of their parents, relations and other concerned Nigerians on the condition of the abducted girls in the custody of their captors.”

•Photo shows scene of Thursday’s Nyanya bomb blast.

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