Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Ugbor, who represents Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, revealed that 13 people were recently killed in an attack by suspected herdsmen, adding that the violence has left many children orphaned.
He called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to urgently intervene, warning that the situation could spiral into a full-blown crisis if left unchecked.
“As of the last information we have, over 40 percent of the arable farmlands in Benue State have been taken over by Fulani bandits,” Ugbor said. “Farmers can no longer access their lands, leading to a significant drop in agricultural production and raising the threat of food insecurity across the state and the country.”
The lawmaker detailed how the bandits recently attacked and burned down an immigration outpost in Kwande Local Government Area, which borders Cameroon. The outpost, though lacking arms, was a crucial intelligence-gathering hub.
“During the attack, the bandits crossed into Cameroonian territory, where the Cameroon Gendarmes engaged and killed several of them,” Ugbor disclosed. “This incident has international implications and could escalate if not urgently addressed.”
He further warned that the violence threatens key national infrastructure, including the Kashimbila Power Plant, an airport, and a UN refugee camp in the region housing displaced persons from Cameroon.
Ugbor emphasized the economic potential of the Benue-Cameroon border region, highlighting the presence of natural resources like gold and lithium. He called for the activation of the export processing zone approved years ago to encourage industrial and commercial development.
“The solution to this crisis is economic development,” he stressed. “If the region is opened up to industrial activities and infrastructure, it will reduce the vulnerability of these areas to invasion.”
He appealed to President Tinubu to deploy more security personnel and incorporate advanced technology to curb the worsening insecurity.
“We need more boots on the ground and the deployment of modern technology to monitor and protect our communities,” Ugbor said, emphasizing that Benue’s agricultural land is a national asset comparable to oil in the Niger Delta.
The lawmaker criticized the lack of sustained government presence, which he argued has left vast areas vulnerable to bandit occupation. He urged both the state and federal governments to prioritize infrastructure development to deter further encroachment.
“If these lands were occupied by industries, schools, and security bases, it would be harder for bandits to take over,” he argued.
Ugbor concluded by reiterating his call for urgent federal intervention to protect lives, farmlands, and economic assets, warning that continued inaction would lead to irreversible damage.
“The casualties are unquantifiable,” he lamented. “Thousands of my constituents have been killed, and if nothing is done soon, the consequences will be devastating for Benue and the entire nation.”