Benue attacks: Senate urges FG to establish military base in Kwande

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Kwande Local Government,Benue State, to curb escalating attacks and enable displaced residents to return to their communities.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Emmanuel Udende, who raised concerns over recurring attacks by armed assailants on several communities in the area.

Presenting the motion, Udende said recent coordinated assaults across Kwande had resulted in the killing of more than 20 residents, while many others were forced to flee their homes.

He told the Senate that the attackers had repeatedly targeted villages and local markets, leaving a trail of destruction, displacement and fear among residents struggling to rebuild their lives.

Udende recalled that on February 5, 2026, gunmen invaded a settlement in the area, killing several residents, injuring many others and destroying homes and property.

According to him, nearly 50 persons were reportedly killed during the February attacks, while several residents are still missing as families continue searching for their loved ones.

The lawmaker added that while the affected communities were still mourning their losses, another wave of attacks occurred in March,

further deepening the humanitarian crisis.

He said that on March 10, 2026, gunmen again stormed some communities, killing about eleven people and forcing already traumatised residents to flee.

Udende also drew attention to an earlier attack on March 5 in Bachor community, which he said led to additional deaths and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

He warned that intimidation and arrests of local vigilante members by security operatives could weaken cooperation between community volunteers and formal security agencies, while  attributing the worsening security situation to poor road networks, weak communication infrastructure and the absence of permanent security formations in the area.

“Improved security presence and communication facilities will significantly enhance response time and protect lives in these vulnerable rural communities,” he said.

Contributing to the debate, Senators Osita Izunaso, Ahmad Lawan and Adams Oshiomhole supported the motion and called for urgent intervention to restore security in the affected communities.

The Senate thereafter observed a minute’s silence in honour of victims of the attacks and adopted all the prayers contained in the motion, including the call for the establishment of a military base in Kwande.