Former Senate President, David Mark, has urged the federal government to adopt a more proactive approach in combating violent crimes, kidnappings, and the activities of armed herdsmen wreaking havoc in various parts of the country.
In his Easter goodwill message, Mark recommended that such violent groups be officially designated as terrorists and treated accordingly.
He expressed deep concern over the continued wave of violence, particularly in Plateau and Benue states, which has led to significant loss of lives and property.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, Mark said: “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, Senator 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 practice worldwide.
The former Senate President, whose Otukpo, Benue South country home has been under suspected herdsmen attacks called for 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 the nation’s 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.
#
Benjamin Netanyahu Instructs Israeli Military To Resume Strikes On Hamas After Peace Accord Fails
Benjamin Netanyahu has said he has instructed Israel’s military to intensify pressure on Hamas after the Palestinian militant group rejected a temporary truce proposal.
In a televised address, the Israeli prime minister said that while war came with a heavy price, Israel had “no choice but to continue fighting for our very existence, until victory”.
On Thursday, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal for a temporary pause in fighting, describing the offer as demanding “impossible conditions”.
Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, with 24 of them believed to be alive. It says it will only return them in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year.
Netanyahu’s remarks came after the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said Israeli strikes had killed more than 90 people in 48 hours.
Women and children were among 15 people who were killed overnight on Friday in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to hospital staff.
At least 11 of those who were killed were sheltering in a tent in the designated humanitarian zone of al Mawasi, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living, the hospital workers said.
A further four people were killed in separate strikes on the city of Rafah, including a mother and her daughter, according to Gaza’s European Hospital, where the bodies were taken.
Israel says its latest campaign is to put pressure on Hamas to release more hostages and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory.
For weeks, Israeli troops have also blockaded Gaza, barring the entry of food and other goods.
Last month, 15 aid workers were killed and buried in a shallow grave after being fired upon by Israeli troops.
Hamas’s armed wing said the fate of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander was unknown after a guard who was holding him was found killed.
On Tuesday, Hamas said it had lost contact with a group of militants holding Mr Alexander in Gaza.
