The Northern Governors Forum and Northern Elders Forum have met in Abuja to address the quit notice issued to Fulani herders in the South-West.

After their meeting on Monday in Abuja, the NGF Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said the meeting was necessary to douse tension.

He noted that the meeting was to seek diplomatic measures of resolving the issues and chart ways of facilitating the region’s progress.

The chairman said the delegation of northern elders led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi was part of their engagement to address quit notices and other problems in the country.

“Today (Monday), we just came from Kaduna after the North-West meeting with security organisations, and we also had a very fruitful meeting and discussion with the northern elders this evening. Part of the meeting is to find ways of calming nerves and also to assure our northern brothers that measures are being taken,” he said.

Mr. Lalong added, “We sent a delegation of governors to go to Oyo State. They are right now in Ibadan to assess the situation and see the truth of what is happening with the northerners in the South-West and bring back a report.”

While addressing journalists, NEF’s Secretary, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, explained that the meeting was to present northerners’ complaints to the governors for appropriate action.

He said the meeting with the governors was also to seek their support in some of the elders’ initiatives and get an update from the governors on their efforts in defending the interest of the region.

Mr. Baba-Ahmed said the elders were happy with the meeting’s outcome, noting it was productive and constructive.

(NAN)