Benue Seeks Federal Approval to Rehabilitate 400 Repentant Bándits

The Benue State Government has requested the Federal Government’s approval to establish a Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) centre aimed at rehabilitating repentant local bandits.

Josephine Habba, Director-General of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists in Makurdi.

Habba explained that the proposed initiative is intended to reform individuals who were drawn into banditry under duress or through difficult circumstances. She described many of them as “foot soldiers” rather than masterminds of criminal activity.

According to her, the commission’s biometric profiling has identified over 1,800 individuals, with around 400 expressing willingness to undergo rehabilitation.

“These persons are not necessarily criminals but were taken in to do dirty jobs for those in the forest. Many were recruited because they could move freely without being recognised,” Habba said.

“My commission has worked out a comprehensive plan that will be unveiled at a peace summit on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The programme will run for between six months and one year, after which participants will graduate and receive certificates,” she added.

She noted that the reintegration phase would include restoring destroyed livelihoods and supporting affected communities.

Habba also revealed that she and Bishop Isaac Dugu of Katsina-Ala Diocese had engaged with officials of the Safe Corridor programme and recommended that the state governor formally approach the Chief of Defence Staff for approval.

“The Chief of Defence Staff has indicated that a committee will be set up to assess the proposed facility. If it meets required standards, further steps will be taken,” she said.

The proposed DDR centre is expected to be located in Logo Local Government Area and is projected to cost millions of naira.