From Fred Itua, Abuja
Angered by the alleged assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, former President of the Senate, David Mark, has asked security operatives to step up to the challenges of securing the lives and property of Nigerians to avoid the consequences of a resort to self help.
Mark said the deteriorating security situation has become scandalous and making Nigeria a subject of ridicule before other nations.
Condemning the alleged assassination attempt on Governor Ortom on Saturday, Senator Mark frowned: “If a state Governor can be so brazenly attacked, what would they not do to the ordinary citizens.
“Let me state clearly that Benue people are receptive and accommodating. But this should not be misconstrued or mistaken for weakness. Enough of this malady.
“If our government and security operatives can no longer guarantee peoples’ safety in their homes , farms or places of business, I am worried that the situation may compel citizens to resort to self help.
“That is the situation, we cannot contemplate and must not be allowed to happen because the consequences would be catastrophic.
“Therefore, federal government and all the security agencies must of a necessity come to terms with the painful reality of the unabating insecurity in the land and resolve to end it.”
Senator Mark, however, told Ortom not to be deterred by the incident, but should rather spur him to beef up security and welfare for the citizens of the state.
He noted that the Governor has lived up to his oath of office to wit; defend and protect the lives and property of Benue people without compromise.
Mark urged all citizens to be security conscious at all times just as he told them to provide useful information to security operatives of any suspected activity believed to be unlawful or anti- society .
Governor Ortom was said to have been ambushed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits along Tyo-MU Makurdi/Gboko road on Saturday. He escaped by the whiskers.