The worsening Benue insecurity has prompted the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, to call on the Federal Government to launch decisive operations against armed groups following fresh killings and kidnappings in Benue and Plateau states.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Kola Ologbondiyan, the former Senate President condemned the reported killing of about 16 people in Otukpo, Benue State, and nine others in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, allegedly carried out by suspected armed militias.
He also expressed concern over the reported hijacking of a Benue Links commercial bus along the Otukpo–Taraku–Makurdi Road, where gunmen reportedly abducted all passengers before fleeing into the bush. Describing the attacks as “barbaric” and “reprehensible,” Mark warned that persistent killings and kidnappings now pose a serious threat to national security and social stability.
Mark urged the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to intensify operations against those responsible for the attacks.
He called for improved intelligence gathering, sustained surveillance of vulnerable communities and major highways, as well as the rapid deployment of security personnel to identified flashpoints. The ADC chairman also demanded immediate search-and-rescue efforts to secure the safe release of passengers abducted from the Benue Links bus.
According to Mark, those behind the killings and kidnappings must be identified, arrested and prosecuted without delay to end what he described as a growing culture of impunity.
He stressed that no Nigerian community should be left at the mercy of armed criminals and violent militias, urging the Federal Government to treat the deteriorating security situation in Benue with greater urgency. Mark maintained that protecting lives and property remains the primary constitutional responsibility of government, adding that every attack left unanswered only emboldens criminal groups.
The former Senate President also appealed to the Benue State Government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations and community leaders to strengthen cooperation with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence capable of preventing further attacks. While acknowledging that security requires collective vigilance, he insisted that government bears the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding citizens.
Mark extended condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the recovery of those injured during the attacks. He also expressed hope that the abducted passengers would regain their freedom safely. According to him, the bloodshed in Benue demands decisive action rather than repeated assurances, stressing that perpetrators must face the full weight of the law to restore confidence in the nation’s security system.
The latest attacks have renewed concerns over the deteriorating security situation across Nigeria’s North-Central region, particularly in Benue and Plateau states, where recurring violence by armed groups has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands of residents and disrupted livelihoods in recent years.
Benue, widely regarded as Nigeria’s food basket because of its agricultural output, has repeatedly witnessed attacks on farming communities, while Plateau has also experienced recurring violence that has intensified calls for stronger security interventions. The fresh incidents have increased pressure on the Federal Government and security agencies to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities, secure major highways and ensure those responsible for violent crimes are brought to justice.
