In the wake of the brutal killing of 16 northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, a powerful wave of outrage has swept through the northern region of Nigeria. A prominent coalition under the banner of Concerned Northerners has issued a fiery and unflinching declaration, calling the incident a tipping point in Nigeria’s fragile unity and warning that “the North is under no obligation to continue sustaining the Nigerian union.”
The group’s statement, titled “Uromi Massacre: One Killing Too Many, North Under No Obligation to Continue to Sustain Nigeria Union,” was jointly signed by respected northern voices including Dr. Usman Bugaje, Prof. Usman Yusuf, Naja’atu Muhammad, Solomon Dalung, Gen. A.M. Jalingo (rtd), and Chief Ameh. Their message was unequivocal: the systematic violence against northerners in the south must stop — or the very idea of Nigeria as a unified nation may soon collapse.
“We, the concerned people of Northern Nigeria, on behalf of the grieving families of the 16 innocent victims massacred in Uromi, Edo State, declare this heinous act as one massacre too many,” the statement began. “It raises grave concerns about the rights and privileges of northerners in this country — rights that increasingly seem to be denied to us solely because of our region, religion, or ethnicity.”
According to the group, the Uromi massacre is not an isolated event but part of a disturbing trend of targeted violence against northerners across southern Nigeria. Citing past incidents including the OPC attacks in the South-West, brutal actions of IPOB and so-called unknown gunmen in the South-East, and now the South-South killings in Edo, the group painted a grim picture of a country teetering on the edge of regional animosity.
“It is now abundantly clear,” the statement reads, “that northerners are treated as persona non grata in the South, while southerners live, trade, and settle peacefully in the North without hindrance. This double standard is no longer acceptable.”
The coalition warned that the North’s patience is wearing dangerously thin. For decades, they argued, northern leaders have urged calm and restraint in the face of relentless provocations. But with each attack, that call for peace becomes harder to defend.
“Northerners have remained restrained — placated by our elders — even as our people are maimed, killed, and humiliated. But we have reached the brink. Our dignity and integrity as a people are being eroded by our inability to defend our own,” the group lamented.
They issued a stern warning: “This is the last time the North will be pacified on infringements against its right to freely move, settle, and pursue legitimate interests anywhere in Nigeria. Any further attack will no longer be seen as accidental — it will be viewed as deliberate. And we will no longer restrain our people from reacting as they see fit to defend their lives and dignity.”
While acknowledging Governor Ogbemudia Okphebolo’s condolence visit to Kano to commiserate with the victims’ families, the group demanded a transparent and thorough investigation into the massacre, along with prompt and adequate compensation.
Furthermore, they rejected what they described as the “systematic profiling” of northerners as criminals: “We categorically reject the unjust narrative that brands our people as terrorists, bandits, or rustlers. These labels are being weaponised to dehumanise us and justify our systematic extermination using the law as a shield.”
Turning their attention to the federal government, the statement carried a chilling ultimatum: address the Nigerian national question now — or face the possible unraveling of the union.
“We call on the Federal Government to urgently confront the foundational issues threatening our national cohesion. There must be an honest and inclusive dialogue to determine whether our continued existence as a united Nigeria is viable — and if so, on what terms,” the group demanded.
The statement concluded with a sharp critique of President Bola Tinubu’s alleged attempt to reintroduce regionalism by stealth.
“We are watching with deep concern the Tinubu administration’s veiled efforts to bring back regionalism through the back door. While we support the right of all peoples to self-determination, such decisions must be made collectively and transparently. Every region must sit at the table to decide the way forward — not through unilateral policy shifts disguised as reforms,” they stated.
As tension continues to simmer, the Uromi massacre has reignited a deep and divisive national debate — one that could very well shape the future of Nigeria as a federation. The question now is not just justice for the victims, but whether the Nigerian state can still claim to be one nation — with liberty and justice for all.
PIONEER NEWS 