Nigerian Senate Urges FG to Establish Military Base in Kwande Local Government Area Over Rising Attacks
The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to establish a military base in Kwande Local Government Area to address growing insecurity and enable displaced residents to safely return to their communities.
Lawmakers also urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and conduct coordinated patrols across affected communities to prevent further attacks.
Specifically, the Senate recommended the establishment of a military base along the Ikyurav–Ya–Ukusu corridor to ensure a sustained security presence in the troubled area.
The chamber further appealed to telecommunications companies to install communication masts in the locality to allow residents to make distress calls during emergencies.
In addition, the Senate directed 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.
During the plenary, senators observed a one-minute silence in honour of victims killed in recent attacks in Abande, Awu, Asinuba, Awapacho, and nearby communities.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Emmanuel Udende, who raised concerns about the escalating violence in communities within the Kwande Local Government Area.
While presenting the motion, Udende said coordinated attacks by armed assailants in the area had resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people and forced many residents to flee their homes.
He recalled that on February 5, 2026, gunmen attacked a settlement in the area, killing several residents, injuring others and destroying homes and property.
According to the senator, about 50 people were reportedly killed during the February attacks, with several others still missing.
He added that fresh violence occurred in March, worsening the humanitarian situation. On March 10, gunmen reportedly killed about 11 people, while an earlier attack on March 5 in Bachor community also resulted in casualties and destruction of property.
Udende told lawmakers that several bodies recovered after the attacks remained unidentified, while about 25 people were still unaccounted for.
He also warned that the arrest and harassment of local vigilantes by security operatives could undermine cooperation between community volunteers and formal security agencies.
According to him, poor road networks, limited communication infrastructure and the absence of permanent security formations have slowed emergency responses to distress calls in the rural communities.
Seconding the motion, Osita Izunaso described the security situation in Benue as a national emergency that requires urgent government intervention.
Also contributing, Ahmed Lawan stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s overall security architecture, urging the government to adequately fund and equip security agencies to effectively confront armed groups.
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