The House of Representatives of Nigeria has raised concern over the rising wave of killings in communities within the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State, calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently strengthen military operations to halt the attacks.
The resolution followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by the lawmaker representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Terseer Ugbor, during plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the motion, Ugbor condemned what he described as coordinated attacks by armed mercenaries and bandits on several communities in Kwande Local Government Area in recent weeks, resulting in deaths, injuries, destruction of property and the displacement of residents.
He recalled that on February 3, 2026, attackers invaded Abande and Anwase communities in the Turan District, killing at least 17 people, including a Mobile Police officer, while many others sustained injuries and homes and farmlands were destroyed.
Ugbor also noted that similar attacks occurred in Anem and Tomataan communities in Ikyurav-Ya, as well as parts of Ikyov in Ushongo Local Government Area.
According to him, another deadly assault took place on March 5, when armed assailants killed 16 people in Mbaav community in Mbadura Council Ward and the Mbachoon community in Yaav Council Ward.
“As we speak here today, Mr Speaker, a mass burial is currently planned to bury some of the people who recently lost their lives to these attacks,” Ugbor said.
The lawmaker disclosed that during an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas on March 8, he observed that although a full battalion of the Nigerian Army had been deployed to the area, the troops were facing operational challenges that limited their ability to respond effectively.
He added that the operational mandate of the deployed forces appeared unclear, raising concerns over whether the mission was meant to serve as a peacekeeping operation or a full combat deployment aimed at flushing out armed groups.
Ugbor also warned that the porous Nigeria–Cameroon border in the region had created easy entry and exit routes for criminal groups, providing safe havens for attackers operating in ungoverned spaces.
He further linked the insecurity to illegal mining activities in the mineral-rich border region, which he said had attracted criminal networks and worsened the security situation.
The lawmaker also expressed concern that the Kashimbila area in neighbouring Taraba State had become a staging ground for attackers, warning that without urgent intervention the violence could escalate further and deepen the humanitarian crisis.
Following the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to deploy additional technological and logistical support, including drones, surveillance systems and modern combat equipment, to security forces operating in Kwande Local Government Area.
Lawmakers also called on the government to transform the Benue–Cameroon border corridor into an Export Processing Zone with strong security and economic infrastructure to promote legitimate business activities and deny criminal groups safe havens.
The House further urged the Federal Government to impose an immediate ban on illegal mining in the affected areas and establish strict regulatory monitoring to prevent criminal exploitation of mineral resources.
It also mandated the House Committees on Defence and National Security and Intelligence to liaise with relevant agencies to ensure the prompt implementation of the resolutions and report back to the chamber.
Benue State, often described as Nigeria’s “food basket” because of its agricultural output, has experienced repeated attacks by armed groups in recent years, leading to widespread displacement of rural communities and destruction of farmlands.
Security experts warn that the continued violence not only worsens the humanitarian situation in the state but also threatens food production and livelihoods, underscoring the need for coordinated military and economic interventions to stabilise the affected areas.
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