The Senate has officially called on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State to combat a surge in violent insecurity and facilitate the safe return of displaced residents.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende (Benue North East), who detailed a harrowing series of coordinated assaults that have left dozens dead and thousands displaced. The Senate observed a minute of silence to honor victims from the Abande, Awu, Asinuba, and Awapacho communities.
Key Legislative Demands and Resolutions:
Permanent Security Presence: The Senate specifically recommended the immediate establishment of a military formation along the Ikyurav–Ya–Ukusu axis to provide a sustained deterrent against armed groups.
Infrastructure Support: In a strategic move to improve emergency response, lawmakers appealed to telecommunications providers to install masts in the region, ensuring residents can make distress calls during active crises.
Humanitarian Intervention: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been directed to provide urgent relief materials to families affected by the attacks across Kwande and broader Benue State.
Enhanced Operations: Security agencies were urged to intensify synchronized patrols and surveillance to prevent further incursions into rural settlements.
During the presentation of the motion, Senator Udende highlighted a grim timeline of violence, including a February 5th invasion that claimed nearly 50 lives and a renewed wave of attacks on March 5th and 10th that resulted in further fatalities. He noted that approximately 25 individuals remain missing, while poor road networks and a lack of communication infrastructure continue to hamper rapid response efforts.
Seconding the motion, Senator Osita Izunaso characterized the situation as a “national emergency.” Supporting the call for action, Senator Ahmed Lawan emphasized that the nation’s security architecture requires significantly bolstered funding, modern equipment, and logistical support to effectively neutralize these threats.
The Senate also cautioned against the intimidation of local vigilantes by official operatives, noting that such friction undermines the critical cooperation needed between community volunteers and formal security agencies.
