NORTHERN YOUTHS WILL FACE YOU IF YOU ATTACK MOSQUES OR MUSLIMS, AREWA YOUTHS WARN MEND

Arewa Youths have indicated that they have had enough of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). The Arewa youths also warned MEND that any attempt at carrying out their threat to attack mosques and Muslims in retaliation for Boko Haram's attack would be met with violence.

However pundits have questioned the anger of the Arewa youths. A notable pundit who gave NaijaPundit his thoughts said "if the Northern youths are so angry that MEND wants to retaliate against Boko Haram's attack how do they want Southerners to feel when Boko Haram are actually bombing churches and killing Christians in their hundreds? After all MEND only threatened retaliation but Boko Haram has been actively killing us. Who should be angry? Is it them or us?"

The stance of Northern youths was made known by Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, National President of the Arewa Youths Forum.

He said "the most recent threat by MEND is indeed, unfortunate, callous and counter productive, especially coming at a time when patriotic Nigerians are making strident effort and sacrifices to resolve the current security challenge."

Continuing he said "MEND, as usual, is putting spanners in the works for unpatriotic selfish economic benefits. It is painful that these elements are threatening more violence despite the colossal amount being paid their leadership and the training of Niger Delta youths abroad by the Federal Government to the obvious disadvantage of other Nigerian youths outside the region."

“MEND and its members are hereby warned that they do not have monopoly of ideas, strength or ability. The youths of the north and other Nigerians are united and shall face them to truncate any of their threats which are aimed at separating Nigerians along religious or ethnic divides for their selfish economic goals. It is very sad and mind boggling to note that instead of supporting and ensuring that President Jonathan succeeds in finding a lasting solution to the present security challenge in the north, MEND has re-opened another insecurity theatre in the Niger Delta to cause distraction and make him fail. The obvious disrespect, which MEND shows to President Jonathan as not being among those they respect enough to intervene in the ongoing debacle, is food for thought, to say the least” Gujungu concluded.