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Benue Killings: Reps Demand Urgent Military Action as Attacks Spread Across Kwande, Ushongo
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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has raised alarm over the continuing killings in communities within the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State, calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to immediately intensify military operations to halt the violence.
The concern was brought before lawmakers during plenary on Thursday through a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Terseer Ugbor.
He drew attention to a series of recent attacks carried out by armed groups believed to be mercenaries and bandits in several communities in Kwande Local Government Area.
According to the lawmaker, the assaults have left many people dead and injured while homes, farmlands and other property have been destroyed. The violence has also forced numerous residents to flee their communities.
Rep. Ugbor highlighted a deadly incident on 3 February 2026 when gunmen stormed the Abande and Anwase communities in the Turan district. At least 17 people were killed during the attack, including a Mobile Police officer. Several others sustained injuries as houses were razed and livelihoods wiped out.
He noted that other communities have also come under similar assaults, including Anem and Tomataan in the Ikyurav-Ya area, as well as parts of Ikyov in Ushongo Local Government Area.
The lawmaker further informed the House of another violent episode on 5 March 2026, when armed attackers struck Mbaav community in Mbadura Council Ward and Mbachoon community, along with nearby settlements in Yaav Council Ward. Sixteen people lost their lives in that incident, while several others were left wounded.
The motion has intensified calls within the chamber for stronger security intervention to restore safety in the affected communities and prevent further bloodshed.
“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 constraints that hinder effective response.
He also noted that the operational mandate of the deployed forces appeared unclear, raising questions about whether the mission was intended as a peacekeeping effort or a full combat operation aimed at flushing out armed groups and bandits operating in the area.
Ugbor further warned that the porous Nigeria Cameroon border corridor in Benue State has created easy entry and exit routes for armed groups, providing safe havens in ungoverned spaces.
He added that illegal mining activities in the mineral rich border region were also attracting criminal networks and fueling illicit activities that worsen insecurity.
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 and deepen the humanitarian crisis.
The House unanimously adopted the motion urgi g the Federal Government and security agencies to immediately deploy additional technological and logistical support, including drones, surveillance assets and modern combat equipment, to security forces operating in Kwande Local Government Area.
The lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to transform the Benue Nigeria Cameroon border area into an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) with strong security and economic infrastructure to promote legitimate economic activities and deny criminal groups safe havens.
The House further urged the 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 for the prompt implementation of the resolutions and report back to the House.
The House observed a one-minute silence in honour of victims of the attacks.
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The convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, was reportedly ambushed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday evening.
This development occurred along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway as Gubio and his entourage were returning to Maiduguri after a thank-you visit to Damasak, a border town in northern Borno State.
Damasak is located about 190 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
According to a security source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the attackers allegedly planted landmines along the highway, with a police armoured vehicle leading the convoy triggering one of the explosives.
“We entered Damasak safely and spent about 40 minutes there. On our way back, the insurgents planted mines on the road, and the armoured vehicle that led the convoy drove over it and exploded,” the source said.
The explosion was reportedly followed by an attempted ambush as the insurgents opened an attack on the convoy.
Security operatives comprising military personnel, police officers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) reportedly engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat.
The source said the security team had to take defensive positions after the blast while waiting for other vehicles in the convoy to arrive.
“We had to park and take positions, waiting for the remaining vehicles in the convoy to arrive. In the course of waiting, we noticed the movement of the insurgents and swiftly engaged them,” the source added.
The combined security team reportedly succeeded in repelling the attack and preventing further damage to the main convoy.
However, the police armoured vehicle that triggered the explosive device was said to have been severely damaged in the blast.
The Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway is considered one of the most dangerous routes in northern Borno because of the activities of insurgents and the persistent threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ambushes.
The route is also strategically important to insurgents operating around the Lake Chad region, with security sources saying it provides access towards Alagarno, the Sambisa Forest and parts of Yobe State.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the security challenges confronting political activities and campaign movements in Borno State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It also brings back memories of the assassination of Modu Fannami Gubio, an ANPP governorship candidate, who was shot dead by gunmen in Maiduguri in January 2011.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nahum Kenneth Daso, reportedly did not answer calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone.
The security agencies had not publicly confirmed the reported attack at the time of filing this report.
The Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Sani II, has died.
The monarch passed away on Thursday in Egypt.
His death has thrown the people of the Gumel Emirate and residents of Jigawa State into mourning, with tributes expected to continue to pour in from across the state and beyond.
The death of the respected traditional ruler is a significant loss to his family, associates and the entire Gumel community. Prayers have been offered for Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.
Prayers were also offered for Allah to grant his family, loved ones and the people of Gumel the strength and patience to bear the loss.
The death of the Emir represents a major loss to the Gumel Emirate, given the important role traditional institutions play in promoting peace, unity, cultural values and community development.
The Gumel Emirate is one of the historic traditional institutions in northern Nigeria, with a rich heritage and longstanding influence in the social and cultural affairs of its people.
As Emir, the late Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Sani II, CON, served as custodian of the traditional institution and provided leadership to the people of the emirate.
His passing is expected to be deeply felt by members of the royal family, traditional title holders, community leaders and residents across the emirate.
United States federal agents have nabbed a podcaster, Azariah Southworth, in Los Angeles over allegations that he threatened to kill US President Donald Trump.
According to New York Post on Thursday, Southworth was taken into federal custody in Los Angeles following an investigation into the alleged threats against Trump.
Southworth is known for hosting the Yass, Jesus podcast and previously hosted the Christian television programme, The Remix. His arrest has brought federal authorities’ attention to statements allegedly made by him concerning the president.
The allegations against Southworth have not been established in court, and details of any criminal charges filed against him were not immediately available in the report. Federal authorities typically investigate threats against the president as potential federal offences.
US law prohibits knowingly and willfully threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict bodily harm on the president. Such cases can result in federal prosecution if investigators determine that a statement meets the legal threshold for a criminal threat.
Federal authorities have pursued similar cases involving alleged threats against Trump in recent years.
The US Department of Justice has previously announced charges and convictions involving people accused of making threats against the president online and through other forms of communication.
Authorities have also stressed in previous cases that an arrest or criminal charge does not establish guilt. Prosecutors are required to prove the allegations in court, while defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted.
Southworth’s arrest comes amid continued security concerns surrounding threats against Trump and other US public officials. Further details about the allegations, possible charges and Southworth’s next court appearance are expected to emerge as the federal case proceeds.
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