PRESS STATEMENT2

Worried President of the Senate Senator David Mark over the massacre of his constituents in Agatu local government area of Benue state has tasked security operatives to leave no stone unturned to fish out the assassins and bring them to justice.

Scores of indigenes of Egba community in Agatu local government area of Benue state were ambushed and murdered in cold blood by the assailants believed to be Fulani herdsmen in the wee hours of Monday.

Reacting to the incident after some of his constituents briefed him on the development, Senator Mark expressed grieve over the incident and wondered why his constituents would continued  to be killed by their supposed neighbors at will .

An angry Senator Mark said: "This is condemnable. This guerrilla war fair must be stopped. All hands must be on deck to put an end to this,

"Whatever the issue is, resort to violence or killings cannot bring a solution. We must come together and resolve the matter. This animalistic and barbaric act is condemnable by any right thinking members of the society".

He  therefore called for an aggressive security  operation to fish out the hoodlums in order to bring them to justice  and end the carnage.

 The  governments of Benue and Nasarawa states had last year waded into the intractable conflict  between Agatu and the Fulani herdsmen, during which a peace pact was signed.

However, Senator Mark was of the view that a joint commission specifically to address the problem has become paramount to forestall further outbreak of violence and killings.

In the meantime, the Senate President has requested the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) to help provide relief materials to displaced persons in the war ravaged Agatu even as he pleaded with the people to remain law abiding as government finds solution to the crisis.

He was optimistic that with security beef up in the troubled area, peace would be restored and people go about their normal duties again.


Signed:
Paul Mumeh, Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate.