In order to increase security and facilitate the safe return of displaced people to their communities, the Nigerian Senate has requested the Federal Government to build a military camp in Kwande Local Government Area.
In order to stop other assaults, lawmakers also urged security services to step up surveillance and conduct coordinated patrols and operations throughout the impacted communities.
To guarantee a steady security presence in the unstable region, the Senate specifically suggested establishing a military base along the Ikyurav–Ya–Ukusu corridor.
In order to enable locals to make distress calls in an emergency, the chamber also urged telecom providers to erect communication masts in the area.
Additionally, it mandated that the National Emergency Management Agency give humanitarian aid and relief supplies to families affected by the attacks in Kwande and other areas of Benue State.
Senators observed a one-minute silence throughout the meeting in remembrance of the victims of recent attacks in Abande, Awu, Asinuba, Awapacho, and nearby areas.
The resolutions came after Senator Emmanuel Udende’s motion of urgent public urgency regarding the increasing number of attacks in Kwande Local Government Area communities.
Udende noted during the motion’s presentation that more than 20 people had died as a result of recent concerted attacks by armed intruders in the area, forcing many locals to flee their homes.
He recounted that on February 5, 2026, gunmen assaulted a nearby settlement, killing multiple individuals, wounding others, and destroying homes and other property.
He claims that during the February attacks, over fifty persons were reportedly killed, and several more are still unaccounted for.
The senator added that the humanitarian situation in the region got worse in March due to another round of violence.
He said that an earlier attack in the Bachor village on March 5 also resulted in injuries and property damage, and on March 10, gunmen reportedly killed roughly 11 individuals in further strikes.
Udende informed MPs that roughly 25 people are still missing and that several of the remains found following the attacks are still unidentifiable.
Additionally, he warned that cooperation between official security agencies and community volunteers may be weakened if local vigilantes are arrested and harassed by security personnel.
He claims that inadequate road networks, inadequate communication infrastructure, and the lack of permanent security formations continue to impede rural communities’ ability to respond quickly to distress calls.
Senator Osita Izunaso, who seconded the motion, called the security situation in Benue a national emergency that calls for immediate government response.
Speaking as well, Senator Ahmed Lawan underlined the necessity of bolstering Nigeria’s comprehensive security framework, emphasizing that in order to effectively combat armed groups, security forces must have sufficient funding and logistical support.
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