Former Senate President, David Mark, has urged the Nigerian government to overhaul its current security strategy and adopt more effective border control measures modeled after countries like the United States, Israel, and India.
In a statement delivered through his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Mumeh, during an Easter goodwill message in Kano, Mark emphasized the urgent need for structural reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture.
He decried the persistent wave of violence across the country — particularly in the North Central states of Plateau and Benue — describing the killings and displacement of citizens as intolerable.
According to Mark, groups involved in killings, kidnappings, and village invasions should be officially declared terrorists and treated accordingly.
“We must not shy away from the truth. If they are not terrorists, why are they killing people, destroying communities, and chasing people away from their ancestral homes?” he said.
Calling for tighter border controls, he proposed a strategy involving physical border fencing, similar to systems used by the U.S., Israel, and India.
“We must not allow criminal elements to stream into our country. We must change our strategy. Maybe, we can begin to think of fencing our borders like India, Israel, the U.S., and Mexico. It will also have the mandate of fighting terrorism, kidnapping, and other violent crimes,” he added.
Mark extended his condolences to communities affected by recent attacks and called for national solidarity.
It is reported that over 50 people were killed in Zilkke village, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, during a brutal assault by gunmen who also torched more than 40 homes. Similar attacks occurred in Benue State on Good Friday, where over 56 people were reportedly killed in Logo and Ukum LGAs by suspected herders.
