The Benue State Government has made a startling revelation regarding the 400 local bandits who have indicated willingness to surrender and undergo rehabilitation. According to officials, the group includes pregnant women who were originally kidnapped and forced into servitude as cooks for criminal gangs operating in the state's troubled regions.
The disclosure comes amidst heated controversy surrounding the government's plan to establish a rehabilitation centre for repentant bandits, a move that has drawn criticism from residents questioning the administration's intentions. Speaking to journalists in Makurdi, the Director-General of the Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Josephine Habba, provided clarity on why the state is seeking federal approval to set up a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Centre.
Habba explained that the proposed facility is specifically designed to rehabilitate individuals who were coerced into criminal activities, rather than hardened criminals. She decried the persistent insecurity plaguing Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas, emphasizing the urgent need for decisive intervention to restore lasting peace.
Providing further insight into the complex situation, Habba stated, "We all know the story of Sankera. Those abducted victims were often used as foot soldiers or compelled to carry out dangerous errands for those hiding deep within the forest. Even pregnant women were abducted and turned over to their cooks."
She revealed the scale of the issue, noting, "The number of people from the biometrics we have done is over 1,800, but 400 are willing to be rehabilitated." These individuals, she clarified, are not necessarily criminals by choice. "These persons are not necessarily criminals but were taken in to do dirty jobs for those in the forest because they know that if they (local bandits) come out, they would be recognised, so they needed foot soldiers."
Once approved by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, the centre will be located in Logo Local Government Area and funded by the United Nations. Habba outlined the government's comprehensive plan, which will be unveiled at a peace summit scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, 2026. "My commission has worked out a plan which will be unveiled... that captures everything and ensures that these people graduate and are given certificates," she added.
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