Mark to FG: Declare war on Boko Haram terrorists now

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, is, obviously, angry over the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
The Senate president on Friday categorically charged the Federal Government to intensify military action against the sect members by declaring war against the terrorists’ group.
Senator Mark was aggrieved that some youths who were suppose to be thinking of what they could do for their fatherland suddenly took up arms against it, and are destroying lives and properties erratically.
He said: “Now is the favourable time to declare war on terrorists.”
He condemned in strong terms the abduction of female students a day after they operated in the Nyanya axis of Abuja by bombing a motor park, where over 70 persons were killed.
Speaking at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Nnebisi Road, West-End, Asaba, the Delta State capital, on Friday during the celebration of life of Obi-Bridget Ngbelenwa Okpuno, mother of Chief Uche Luke Okpuno, the contractor handling the budding Asaba International Airport, Mark was categorical that the sect has no respect for the sanctity of life.
According to him, the sect trespassed its boundary by abducting teenage students at gunpoint.
Besides, he said the blood of innocent Nigerians, including newborn babies that know nothing about their agitation, but who died as a result of their activities, would soon cry out and expose them.
While he called on Nigerians to keep the faith and continue to pray for Nigeria in distress, he decried the bombing of Abuja on Workers’ Day by the sect, even as he said the exit to glory of a woman of substance like Mrs. Okpuno, should remind every believer that death is inevitable.
Mark said with their recent attacks, the Federal Government or any corporate organization should not engage the gang in any form of negotiation, maintaining that God would deliver them into the hands of law enforcement agents very soon.
He was sure that in due course, God would expose their local and foreign sponsors and make them to pay for their sins.
He said: “No reasonable government will negotiate with a terrorist group.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will not do that because Boko Haram have torched the heart and soul of the nation when they kidnapped over 200 female students in Borno State.
“We will now take the war to their doorsteps, at least to preserve the sovereignty of our country, Nigeria.”
Mark urged parents and guardians to instil virtue in their children instead of allowing them to grow up with criminal tendencies and become terrorists, kidnappers and armed robbers.
Rev. Fr. Peter Muobogwu, who presided over the funeral mass, urged the congregation not to despair like pagans but believe in resurrection.
Muobogwu said: “Everything in life has its time and season.”
Late Madam Okpuno, who was 93 years old before she died, was survived by 10 children and 42 grandchildren.
The funeral ceremony was attended among others by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; and retired Air Commodore Walter Feghagbo, a former Military Administrator of Delta State.