ABUJA, Nigeria — The Senate has demanded an urgent overhaul of security operations in Benue State following reports that 113 people, including six Mobile Police personnel, were killed in separate attacks on communities in the state.
The lawmakers called on the Federal Government and security agencies to strengthen military and police deployments, improve intelligence gathering and establish effective early-warning systems to prevent further bloodshed.
The Senate also directed security chiefs to ensure the perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted, as concerns mounted over the safety of residents in communities repeatedly targeted by armed attackers.
The demands followed a motion raised on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Emmanuel Udende, representing Benue North-East, during plenary, reports The Guardian.
Presenting the motion, Udende detailed four separate attacks in Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo local council areas, which reportedly claimed 113 lives.
He said 24 people were killed in an attack on Sai community in Katsina-Ala Local Council Area, while another assault on Bom and Aboajio villages in Ukum Local Council Area claimed 63 lives.
Udende further reported that 15 people, including six Mobile Police officers, were killed in an attack on Ayilamo in Logo Local Council Area.
He added that another 11 people were killed on October 8, 2026, when attackers invaded Tse Biliji and Tse Shishi Nyako villages in Ukum Local Council Area and destroyed property.
The senator warned that the repeated attacks had devastated communities, destroyed livelihoods, disrupted farming and other economic activities, and heightened the risk of displacement.
He called for the immediate deployment of military personnel to affected areas of his constituency, arguing that a stronger security presence would help protect residents and restore confidence among communities living under persistent threats.
‘What happens to civilians if security personnel are killed?’
Supporting the motion, Senator Jide Ipinshagba questioned the safety of unarmed residents following reports that six Mobile Police personnel had been killed in one of the attacks.
He expressed concern that if security operatives tasked with protecting communities could be killed, ordinary civilians would be even more vulnerable to armed violence.
The Senate subsequently adopted the motion and urged the Federal Government to take immediate measures to stop further attacks in Ukum, Katsina-Ala and Logo local council areas, as well as other vulnerable communities across Benue State.
The lawmakers called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and relevant security and intelligence chiefs to strengthen operations in the affected areas.
They urged the agencies to provide adequate personnel and operational resources, improve intelligence gathering and establish effective early-warning mechanisms to identify threats before attackers strike.
The Senate also called for rapid-response arrangements to ensure security personnel could intervene promptly when communities faced imminent danger.
It further demanded thorough investigations into the reported killings and the prosecution of anyone found responsible.
The lawmakers stressed that security agencies must prioritise preventive operations rather than relying mainly on responses after attacks have resulted in deaths and destruction.
Senate seeks relief for displaced residents
Beyond the immediate security concerns, the Senate expressed alarm over the humanitarian consequences of the attacks, including destroyed homes, lost livelihoods and the displacement of residents.
It urged the National Emergency Management Agency to collaborate with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency and other relevant authorities to provide emergency relief materials and assistance to affected communities.
The intervention is intended to address the immediate needs of victims while security agencies work to prevent further attacks and restore normalcy.
In his closing remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence to work with relevant agencies to identify measures for strengthening security operations and improving personnel deployment.
The Senate’s intervention comes amid persistent security challenges in parts of Benue State, where attacks on rural communities have threatened lives, disrupted agricultural activities and forced residents to abandon their homes and sources of livelihood.
The lawmakers’ demands place renewed pressure on the Federal Government and security agencies to demonstrate that existing deployments and counter-violence operations can protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of life.
