Benue Lawmaker Calls for Military Bases Amid Killings

Rt. Hon. Onuh Onyech Bless, representing the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, has urged the federal government to establish permanent military bases in vulnerable communities following a series of attacks that claimed at least 12 lives in her constituency.

She described the incidents as tragic and unacceptable, reporting that nine people were killed in Otukpo and three others in separate attacks in Akpachi and Ondu, with eleven injured. Onuh called for a comprehensive investigation into the killings and emphasized the need for security agencies to strengthen operations in the area, particularly in Okwudu, which she identified as highly vulnerable.

She appealed to residents to refrain from retaliatory attacks and to allow security agencies to handle the situation. Furthermore, she reiterated her demand for the designation of Otukpo/Ohimini as a security red alert zone, advocating for extraordinary security measures to restore peace and ensure the safety of residents.