The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has urged the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to halt the wave of killings and kidnappings in Benue and Plateau states, warning that continued inaction would embolden armed groups terrorising communities.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark reacted to the reported killing of about 16 people in Otukpo, Benue State, and nine others in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected armed militias.
He also expressed concern over the reported hijacking of a Benue Links commercial bus along the Otukpo–Taraku–Makurdi Road, where gunmen allegedly abducted all the passengers.
Describing the attacks as “barbaric” and “reprehensible,” the former Senate President said the persistent bloodshed and rising cases of kidnapping pose a serious threat to national security and social stability.
Mark stressed that protecting lives and property is the government’s primary responsibility, adding that every unanswered attack only encourages further violence.
He called on the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to intensify operations against the perpetrators through improved intelligence gathering, increased surveillance of vulnerable communities and highways, and rapid deployment of security personnel to flashpoints.
He also demanded immediate search-and-rescue efforts to secure the release of the abducted Benue Links passengers and urged authorities to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the killings and kidnappings.
According to Mark, no Nigerian community should be left at the mercy of armed criminals, urging the Federal Government to treat the worsening security situation in Benue with the urgency it deserves.
He further appealed to the Benue State Government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and community leaders to work closely with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence to prevent future attacks.
While acknowledging that security is a collective responsibility, Mark maintained that the constitutional duty of protecting lives and property rests with the government.
He extended condolences to the families of those killed, wished the injured a speedy recovery, and expressed hope that the kidnapped passengers would be rescued safely.
Mark concluded by calling for decisive action instead of routine assurances, insisting that those responsible for terrorising communities must face the full weight of the law. He also noted that the renewed attacks have intensified concerns over insecurity in Nigeria’s North-Central region, particularly in Benue and Plateau states, where recurring violence has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands of residents.
