Be More Proactive Against Killer Herdsmen, Mark Tells FG

Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has called on the federal government to be more proactive in its efforts to tackle the menace of violent crimes, kidnapping and armed herdsmen devastating parts of Nigeria.

He suggested that such violent and murderous groups should be declared as terrorists and should be treated as such.

In his goodwill message, signed by his special adviser Paul Mumeh, to commemorate this year’s Easter celebrations, Mark bemoaned the unabating violent crimes especially in the North Central states of Plateau and Benue that have claimed dozens of lives and properties.

Mark stated: “We must not shy away from the truth. If they are not terrorists, why are they killing people? Why are they destroying communities? Why are they chasing people away from their ancestral homes?”

He decried the unending activities of armed herdsmen suspected to be behind killings and kidnappings stressing that “their activities are unacceptable and should not only be condemned but be prohibited in entirety as nobody has the right to take anybody’s life”.

On the unabating ferocious and murderous attacks on several communities in Benue and Plateau States, Mark called on the Federal Government to proscribe open grazing in all parts of the country and, in place of open grazing, establish enclosed ranching, which is the best practices worldwide.

The former Senate President, whose Otukpo, Benue South country home has been under suspected herdsmen attacks called for a more inclusive approach to tackle insecurity in all ramifications.

Mark also called for the establishment of a well-equipped Border Security Forces (BSF) to halt the influx of criminals into the country pointing out that most of these suspected herders killing our people took advantage of the porosity of our borders by streaming into the country from our neighbouring countries.

He added : “We must not allow criminal elements to stream into our country. We must, therefore, change our strategy. Maybe, we can begin to think of fencing our borders like India, Israel, the United States and Mexico “.

When established he said that the National Border Security Force (NBSF) would not only be saddled with the mandate of policing our porous borders but would also have the mandate of fighting terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Justifying his current stance, Senator Mark, who decried the carnage going on in Benue and Plateau States, said that a debilitating disease deserves a more serious medication if it must be cured.

He commiserated with the people and governments of Benue and Plateau States and all those who lost their loved ones.