Benue: Senate calls for military base in Kwande to tackle rising insecurity

The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to set up a military base in Kwande Local Government Area to boost security and allow displaced residents to safely return to their homes.

Lawmakers also urged security agencies to step up surveillance, conduct coordinated patrols, and carry out operations in affected communities to prevent further attacks.

Specifically, the Senate recommended establishing a military post along the Ikyurav–Ya–Ukusu axis to maintain a continuous security presence in the area.

The upper chamber further appealed to telecom operators to install communication masts in the region, enabling residents to make emergency calls during crises.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was also asked to provide relief materials and humanitarian support to families affected by attacks in Kwande and other parts of Benue State.

During the session, senators observed a one-minute silence in memory of victims from Abande, Awu, Asinuba, Awapacho, and other impacted communities.

The action followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Emmanuel Udende, highlighting the escalating attacks in Kwande.

In presenting the motion, Udende reported that coordinated assaults by armed groups had killed more than 20 people and forced many families to flee.

He recalled that on February 5, 2026, gunmen attacked a settlement in the area, killing several residents, injuring others, and destroying property. Nearly 50 people were reportedly killed in February, with several still missing.

Udende added that further attacks in March worsened the humanitarian crisis. On March 10, gunmen allegedly killed about 11 people, while an earlier March 5 assault in Bachor community also resulted in deaths and property destruction.

He noted that several recovered bodies remain unidentified and approximately 25 people are still missing. He warned that the arrest and intimidation of local vigilantes by security forces could weaken cooperation between community volunteers and official security agencies.

Udende also pointed out that poor roads, weak communication networks, and the lack of permanent security formations continue to slow emergency response in rural areas.

Seconding the motion, Senator Osita Izunaso described the situation in Benue as a national emergency demanding urgent government intervention.

Senator Ahmed Lawan stressed the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s security framework, emphasizing that agencies need adequate funding, equipment, and logistical support to tackle the threat of armed groups effectively.