Middle Belt Group Speaks On Threat to Block food supplies from North To South
Amidst the growing tensions and threats from some quarters to block the supply of foodstuffs from the North to the South, a Middle Belt association known as the Jukun Development Association has finally broken silence on the issue.
At a press conference held in Abuja, the socio-cultural and political group of the Jukun people condemned those calling for the boycott of food supplies to the Southern part of the country.
The group called on the Middle Belt farmers and other tribes in the region to disregard such calls and continue supplying foodstuffs to the south.
In the statement made by the National President of the association, Chief Bako Benjamin, the group said that those calling for such boycott are not speaking for the entire north, which the Middle Belt is part of.
Chief Benjamin called on the security operatives in the country to ensure they guarantee maximum security to farmers carrying their foodstuffs from the North to the South.
He said that even though those calling for the boycott of food supplies from the north to the south may have their reasons for doing so, but for them to take a decision to starve the southern people is not right and it is detrimental to the unity of Nigeria.
He said that the Yoruba people do not deserve to be paid back with such evil, rather everyone in Nigeria ought to thank them for their kindness and hospitality for allowing every tribe among them.
He said that those calling for the boycott of food supplies from the North to the South have failed to understand that millions of Northerners who ran away from the north because of Boko Haram, hunger, banditry, and other vices, are now taking shelter in the South-West.
He said that such calls for boycott are not only irresponsible, but also very dangerous to the unity of Nigeria.
He called on the security operatives to identify the criminals who caused the unrest in Sasha market some days ago and arrest them. He said that the situation needs to be addressed immediately to prevent it from leading to a serious national upheaval that may be too late to handle.
For a few days now, there have been threats from some quarters about blocking the supply of food stuff from the North to the South following the rising ethnic tensions in the South.
A huge proportion of food stuff consumed in the south comes from the North, and the threats of the food blockade have generated serious tensions in different parts of the country. Many are already lamenting the rising cost of some food items like beef and other things in the market in the south.
Credit: Sahara Reporters.
