Plateau massacre: Ex-Senate Pres. Mark wants FG to address insecurity as national emergency

Worried by the Christmas eve killing of an estimated 150 people in Plateau State, a retired Army General and former Senate President, David Mark, has called for an emergency on security in the country.

Mark urged the President Bola Tinubu administration to consider a critical review of the security architecture in the country with a view to making it more proactive and strategic towards addressing security challenges.

He said it is imperative for the government to take any drastic step towards ending the ceaseless killing of citizens in any part of the country.

The former Senate President condemned in strong terms the massacre in the Plateau at Christmas as well as looting and burning of homes by yet-to-be apprehended gunmen.

According to him, a review will help to identify the loopholes in security architecture and devise a means to end the blood-letting.

The Plateau incidents in which scores of citizens were needlessly massacred should be a wake-up call that the security challenge needs urgent attention, Mark said.

“It will not be out of place to declare an emergency on security. Any step taken to end the continued killing of citizens will be worth the trouble.”

Calling on the federal government and security agencies to do more, Mark noted that life has become so cheap in Nigeria today as if people have lost their humanity.

The retired general also implored the government to collaborate with subnational governments in the task of ensuring peace and security in the country.

Mark, who commiserated with the government and people of Plateau State, advised that residents should be more alert and cooperate with security operatives in order to prevent recurrence.