The Federal Government of Nigeria has been requested by the Senate to build a military installation in Kwande Local Government Area in order to increase security and facilitate the safe return of displaced people.
In order to stop other assaults, lawmakers also urged security authorities to step up surveillance and conduct coordinated patrols and operations in the impacted communities.
The Senate specifically suggested establishing a military facility along the Ikyurav–Ya–Ukusu corridor to guarantee a steady security presence in the unstable region.
In order to enable locals to make distress calls in an emergency, the chamber also urged telecom companies to set up communication masts in the area.
Additionally, it instructed the National Emergency Management Agency to supply humanitarian aid and relief supplies to families affected by the attacks in Kwande and other areas of Benue State.
In remembrance of the victims of recent attacks in Abande, Awu, Asinuba, Awapacho, and nearby areas, senators observed a one-minute silence during the meeting.
The resolutions came after Senator Emmanuel Udende’s urgent public significance motion 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 been killed in recent concerted attacks by armed intruders in the area, forcing many locals to flee their homes.
He recalled that on February 5, 2026, gunmen broke into a local community, killing a number of people, injuring others, and damaging homes and other property.
He said that the attacks in February are said to have killed roughly fifty people and left many more unaccounted for.
The senator also mentioned 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 deaths and property destruction, and that on March 10, gunmen reportedly killed roughly 11 individuals in further strikes.
Udende informed MPs that approximately 25 persons are still missing and that several of the remains found following the attacks are still unidentifiable.
Additionally, he issued a warning that community volunteers and official security agencies may become less cooperative if local vigilantes are arrested and harassed by security personnel.
He claims that the lack of permanent security formations, inadequate road networks, and a lack of communication infrastructure continue to impede the rural communities’ ability to respond quickly to distress calls.
Senator Osita Izunaso, who seconded the motion, characterized Benue’s security situation as a national emergency necessitating immediate government intervention.
Speaking as well, Senator Ahmed Lawan underlined the necessity of bolstering Nigeria’s comprehensive security framework, emphasizing that in order to successfully combat armed groups, security forces must have sufficient funding and logistical support.
