Senate urges FG to establish military base in Benue’s Kwande over insecurity

2026-03-13 - 00:17

By Henry Umoru, Abuja The Senate of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to establish a military base in Kwande Local Government Area to strengthen security and enable displaced residents to return safely to their communities. The upper chamber also urged security agencies to intensify surveillance, coordinated patrols and operations in affected areas to prevent further attacks. Specifically, lawmakers called for the establishment of a military base along the Ikyurav–Ya–Ukusu axis to ensure a sustained security presence in the troubled communities. The Senate further appealed to telecommunications companies to install communication masts in the area to enable residents make distress calls during emergencies. It also asked the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials and humanitarian assistance to families affected by the attacks in Kwande and other parts of Benue State. Lawmakers observed a one-minute silence in honour of victims killed in recent attacks in Abande, Awu, Asinuba, Awapacho and other communities. The resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Emmanuel Udende over escalating attacks in Kwande communities. Presenting the motion, Udende said recent coordinated assaults by armed attackers in the local government area had left more than 20 people dead and forced many families to flee their homes. He recalled that on February 5, 2026, gunmen invaded a settlement in the area, killing several residents, injuring others and destroying homes and property. According to him, nearly 50 people were reportedly killed in the February attacks, while several others remain missing. The senator said another wave of attacks occurred in March, worsening the humanitarian situation in the area. He noted that on March 10, gunmen reportedly killed about 11 people in renewed assaults, while an earlier attack on March 5 in Bachor community also led to casualties and destruction of property. Udende told lawmakers that several bodies recovered from the attacks remain unidentified, while about 25 persons are still missing. He also warned that the arrest and intimidation of local vigilantes by security operatives could undermine cooperation between community volunteers and official security agencies. According to him, poor road networks, weak communication infrastructure and the absence of permanent security formations have continued to hinder rapid response to distress calls in the affected rural communities. Seconding the motion, Senator Osita Izunaso described the security crisis in Benue as a national emergency that requires urgent government intervention. Also contributing, Senator Ahmed Lawan stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s overall security strategy, noting that security agencies require adequate funding, equipment and logistical support to effectively tackle the threat posed by armed groups.