The Senate has asked the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State to improve security and provide a faster response to attacks by bandits who often disguise themselves as herders.
This was part of resolutions during plenary on Wednesday after Senator Tartenger-Zam raised a matter of urgent public importance, drawing attention to the worsening security crisis in Gwer-West.
He criticised the slow response of the state government, stating that authorities often downplay the attacks as ‘mere skirmishes’.
The Senate, therefore, unanimously resolved to push for a permanent military base in the area.
The call followed a fresh wave of violence in the area between Sunday and Monday night, where at least four people were killed in another brutal invasion by armed attackers.
Tartenger-Zam warned that the persistent attacks could have severe economic consequences, particularly in agriculture, which is the primary occupation of Gwer-West residents.
Meanwhile, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, reechoed Tartenger-Zam’s concerns, criticizing the Benue State government’s inaction, which he said was pushing citizens to take the law into their own hands.
According to him, the communities believe it is their responsibility to provide security, while expressing disappointment over the deteriorating situation.
The lawmakers also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide urgent relief materials to affected communities.
They called on the Benue State Government to enforce its anti-open grazing law to prevent further conflicts as well as mandated its Committees on National Security, Intelligence, Livestock, Army, Police, Navy, Air Force, and Defence to visit Gwer-West for an on-the-spot security assessment and express sympathy to victims of the attacks.
Meanwhile, the slated security briefing with service chiefs has been slated to hold in two weeks.
