The Benue state government says it is seeking the approval of the federal government to set up a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) centre to rehabilitate “repentant bandits”.
Josephine Habba, director-general of the commission for
peace and reconciliation, told journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, that
the centre is designed to rehabilitate individuals who, by circumstance, became
foot soldiers for bandits.
She said the state has formally requested Olufemi Oluyede,
chief of defence staff, to approve the establishment of the DDR centre
specifically for bandits of Benue origin.
Habba noted that the DDR centre is a military programme
certified and funded by the United Nations, adding that its creation would
attract international attention to the state.
She noted that operationalising the centre would also
increase troop deployment in Benue.
“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,” Punch quoted Habba as saying.
“Even pregnant women were abducted and turned into their
cooks. The number of people from the biometrics we have done is over 1,800, but
400 are willing to be rehabilitated.”
Habba said the commission has developed a plan to be
unveiled at a peace summit on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, which “captures
everything and ensures that these people graduate and are given certificates”.
“The programme will run for six months to one year. While
they are there, the committee will engage in community resilience, identify
livelihoods that were destroyed, restore them, compensate where needed, and
ensure schools and hospitals are rebuilt for a seamless reintegration of these
people into their families,” she said.
Habba said the proposed centre is expected to be located in
Logo LGA, adding that the project would cost “millions of naira”.
Benue state has witnessed several incidents of farmer-herder
clashes and kidnapping-for-ransom crisis, resulting in many deaths and
displacement of residents.
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