Zeenews Bureau
Abuja: Nigeria's Senate president, David Mark, on Sunday described the security situation in Nigeria as intolerable.
Mark further called for decisive action to halt the deterioration of security situation in the religiously-divided country.
Mark marked the Muslim festival of Eid-El Maulud, the birth of Prophet Mohammed, by insisting on the need of preserving Nigeria's unity.
Boko Haram's attacks have become more sophisticated and deadly in recent weeks in Africa's top oil producer.
The Nigerian Islamist sect has killed at least 935 people since it launched an uprising in 2009, including more than 250 in the first weeks of this year, Human Rights Watch said on January 24.
"The current security challenge which has truly tasked and threatened the nation must be decisively confronted", said Mark, a Christian.
"This is no time to sit on the fence and engage in the blame game. The situation has degenerated to an intolerable level leading to the mass movement (exodus) of our people from one end of the country to the order," the former Army officer said.
As per the reports, many Christians have left the north following a recent surge in Boko Haram attacks there, in which Muslims have also been killed.
"Government at all levels and the security operatives must restore hope and peace that would engender confidence in our people to stop this drift. We have toiled over the years to keep Nigeria one. We cannot afford to slip now."
First Published: Monday, February 06, 2012, 13:00