Senate demands military base in Benue following resurgent terror attacks
…urges Telcos to prioritize installation of masts to facilitate emergency reporting
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently establish a permanent military base in Kwande, Benue State, to stem the tide of escalating terrorist attacks and provide a secure environment for thousands of displaced residents to return to their ancestral lands.
This resolution emerged on Thursday following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Emmanuel Udende, who represents Benue North-East.
Senator Udende painted a grim picture of the situation in Kwande Local Government Area, revealing that a series of coordinated assaults by armed attackers has left the region in a state of mourning and perpetual fear.
He noted that the most recent wave of violence, which occurred this past Tuesday, claimed at least eleven lives and spread panic among a population already traumatized by earlier massacres.
According to the lawmaker, these attackers have systematically targeted local markets and residential settlements, leaving behind a trail of unidentified bodies and at least twenty-five people still missing.
The Senator’s account detailed a bloody timeline starting from early February, when nearly 50 people were reportedly killed in a single invasion.
This was followed by another lethal strike on March 5 in the Bachor community, which resulted in further loss of life and the destruction of properties valued at millions of naira.
Udende lamented that the lack of permanent security formations, combined with poor road networks and nearly non-existent communication infrastructure, has made it impossible for security forces to respond effectively to distress calls in these rural communities.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Osita Izunaso seconded the motion, describing the crisis in Benue as a national emergency that can no longer be ignored.
He warned that the insecurity has reached an unacceptable level where even high-ranking citizens are not safe during religious worship.
Supporting this view, Senator Ahmed Lawan argued that the recurring nature of these attacks highlights a fundamental flaw in the nation’s security strategy.
Lawan emphasized that the military cannot perform miracles without the timely release of operational resources, modern weaponry, and adequate logistics.
Beyond the call for a military base at the Ikyurav-Ya-Ukusu axis, the Senate urged telecommunications companies to prioritize the installation of masts in the affected areas to facilitate emergency reporting.
The lawmakers also charged security agencies to intensify coordinated patrols and surveillance to prevent further incursions.