President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the murder of 19 people by unknown gunmen in Tawari community of Kogi State early yesterday morning.

The President, according to a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, yesterday, said: “There is no excuse or justification for killing innocent people by anybody or group and for whatever motive.

“The killings and revenge killings will only aggravate the cycle of violence, creating neither safety nor security for any side.

“People should avoid taking the law into their own hands because doing so could make a bad situation worse and undermine the government’s efforts to tackle security challenges.

“I am gravely worried about the frequency and temptation of using violence to settle disputes, instead of following lawful and amicable means to avoid needless destruction of lives and property.”

•Excerpted from a Guardian report.