The Senate has called on telecommunications companies to urgently install communication masts in vulnerable parts of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State to enable residents to make distress calls during attacks.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende (Benue North-East), who highlighted the escalating violence by armed groups in the area.
Udende said coordinated assaults had left more than 20 residents dead and displaced many families in recent weeks. He noted that attackers targeted villages and local markets, causing widespread destruction and fear.
The senator recalled specific incidents:
– On February 5, assailants invaded a settlement, killing several people, injuring others, and destroying homes and properties.
– Nearly 50 people were reportedly killed in attacks that month, with many still missing.
– On March 5, another community came under attack, resulting in deaths and property losses worth millions of naira.
– On March 10, gunmen invaded again, killing about 11 people and spreading panic among already traumatised residents.
Udende attributed the persistent attacks to poor road networks, weak communication infrastructure, and the absence of permanent security formations, which delay rapid response to distress calls.
“Improved security presence and communication facilities will significantly enhance response time and protect lives in these vulnerable rural communities,” he said.
The Senate also urged:
– The federal government to establish a military formation along the Ikurav-ya axis to deter further attacks.
– The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to affected families.
– Security agencies to intensify patrols and surveillance across rural communities in the area.
The motion received support from Senators Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North).
The upper chamber emphasized that better telecom coverage would empower residents to alert authorities quickly during emergencies, potentially saving lives amid the ongoing insecurity in parts of Benue State.
