Former Senate President, David Mark, has appealed to youths in Benue State to refrain from retaliatory actions and ethnic profiling in the wake of recent attacks by suspected terrorists on various communities.
Several local government areas in the state—including Otukpo, Agatu, Apa, Ohimini, Okpokwu, Ado, Ogbadibo, Gwer-West, Gwer-East, Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum—have been affected by a wave of violent assaults, which have reportedly claimed numerous lives and caused extensive damage to property.
In Gwer-West, the killing of residents triggered youth-led protests, while fresh violence erupted in Otukpo last week, resulting in more deaths and abductions.
Reacting to the crisis, David Mark condemned the continued insecurity in the state and called for thorough investigations to bring those responsible to justice.
“It is encouraging to hear that some of those responsible for these horrific acts have been arrested by security forces,” he said.
“I urge the authorities to carry out a comprehensive investigation and ensure that all individuals involved—whether directly or indirectly—are prosecuted according to the law.”
Mark also encouraged young people to remain alert and to report any suspicious activity to security agencies as a way to help prevent further violence.
He strongly cautioned against targeting any ethnic group or resorting to revenge, warning that such actions could further inflame tensions.
“There must be no generalisation or retaliation against any ethnic group as a result of these unfortunate incidents,” he stated.
The former Senate President expressed his condolences to those who lost family members in the attacks and prayed for the peaceful repose of the victims’ souls.
