The Senate on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in the Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State as a quicker way of responding to security threats, especially cases of constant invasion of communities by bandits who masquerade as herders.
At least four lives were lost in the area between Sunday and Monday night when the bandits made another invasion in their latest attacks.
Angry youths, in a spontaneous reaction, took to the streets of Naka, the headquarters of Gwer-West, torching several buildings while voicing their frustrations over the failure of the authorities to find solutions to the frequent killings.
One of the houses razed was the private residence of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Sen. Titus Tartenger-Zam.
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On Wednesday, Tartenger-Zam drew the attention of the Senate to the worsening security situation in Gwer-West under matters of urgent public importance, where the lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a permanent military base in the area.
Tartenger-Zam, who represents Benue North-West on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), told the Senate that the security situation in the state was not helped by the slow response of the state government, which often viewed the attacks as “mere skirmishes.”
Both Tartenger-Zam and the Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, are members of the ruling APC.
He complained, “These attacks have become very frequent, Mr President.
“But, a new dimension to the problem is that irate youths now accuse some of us of not doing anything to contain these attacks by the invaders.
“In their anger, they burnt down several properties, including my private residence and the palace of the traditional ruler, among others.”
The lawmaker also noted that the attacks, if not addressed, would negatively run on economic activities, particularly agriculture, the main engagement of the people in the communities in Gwer-West.”
The Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, who represents Benue-South, confirmed Tartenger-Zam’s worries, saying that the “inaction by the Benue State government is snowballing into the citizens taking the law into their hands.”
“Our communities think that it is our responsibility to provide security,” Moro added.
Anambra-Central senator, Victor Umeh, said he fully supported the motion, recalling how Gwer-West had been serially invaded by criminals in the last eight years.
“Many lives have been lost in the Gwer-West for the past eight years. There has to be a solution that is permanent, other than these ad hoc responses whenever there is an attack”, Umeh’s Labour Party (LP) lawmaker, stated.
In addition to establishing a permanent secretary base, the Senate asked security agencies to restore law and order in Gwer-West and other areas of Benue that are engulfed in security challenges with immediate effect.
While calling on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected communities, the Senate also advised the Benue State government to enforce its anti-open grazing establishment law.
The Senate mandated its Committees on National Security And Intelligence/Livestock/ Army/Police/Navy/Airforce and Defence to visit the area for an on-the-spot-assessment of the security situation and express sympathy with the victims of the attacks.
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