Former Senate President, David Mark (PDP – Benue South) has decried the killing of residents of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State by Fulani herdsmen.
The senator, who was recently sworn into the Senate for a sixth term after a re-run, said at least 500 people were killed in 10 communities in the area.
Speaking on an assessment tour of the communities alongside other members of the national and state assemblies from his constituency, Mark described the attacks as “barbaric, wicked and inhuman”, and called on security agencies to put modalities in place to forestall a recurrence.
He also described the attacks as a “genocide” carefully planned and orchestrated against his people.
Mark urged the survivors of the attacks to remain law abiding, no matter the level of provocation.
Furthermore, he advised the communities to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the joint Senate Committee on the crises to bring their situation to the open and seek redress.
In a Saturday statement through his spokesman, Paul Mumeh, Mark said: “I’m shocked beyond words at the extent of destruction in Agatu. It is unbelievable, unimaginable. Nothing whatsoever justifies this brazen act of wickedness meted out to the people of Agatu. My heart bleeds.”