The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, has said that the blood of innocent people who were killed in Benue State is crying for justice.
Mark said the people terrorising communities of the state should be held fully accountable by the law because it is important to maintain peace across the state.
In a statement from his media aide, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC National Chairman called on the Federal Government to act quickly and firmly to stop the ongoing killings and kidnappings in Benue and Plateau states.
Mark’s comment comes amid the occurrence of renewed violence which has led to the killing of 16 people in Otukpo area of Benue State, and nine others in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, by groups believed to be armed militias.
He said: “It’s not acceptable that innocent Nigerians are still being killed in their communities and that people are being taken away on our roads. The main job of any government is to keep people and their belongings safe.
“Every life lost is one too many, and every attack that isn’t stopped only makes the attackers bolder.”
Mark urged the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and other security groups to increase their efforts against the people responsible for the attacks.
He asked for better intelligence collection, ongoing monitoring of communities that are at risk and major roads, and quick sending of security officers to areas where attacks are likely to happen.
He also asked for urgent search-and-rescue efforts to save the passengers who were taken from the Benue Links bus.
Mark said that the people who carried out the killings and kidnappings should be found, caught, and put on trial quickly to stop what he called a growing culture of getting away with crimes.
“No Nigerian community should be left to face armed criminals and violent groups,” Mark said, asking the federal government to handle the worsening security situation in Benue with the seriousness it requires.
“The blood of innocent Benue people cries out for justice. This is the time for decisive action not routine assurances.
“Those who murder innocent citizens and terrorise our communities must face the full wrath of the law. Benue deserves peace, our people deserve to live without fear.”
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