The Benue State Government has disclosed that some pregnant women who were kidnapped and forced to serve as cooks for criminal gangs are part of the 400 local bandits who have indicated readiness to surrender and undergo rehabilitation before being reintegrated into society.
The announcement comes amid recent controversy in the state over plans to establish a rehabilitation centre for repentant bandits, a move that sparked criticism from residents who questioned the government’s intentions.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi, the Director-General of the Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Josephine Habba, explained why the state is seeking federal approval to set up a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Centre.
Habba said the proposed facility is aimed at rehabilitating affected individuals, particularly those coerced into criminal activities.
She decried the persistent insecurity in Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas, stressing the need for decisive intervention to restore peace.
According to her, 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.
Providing further insight, Habba said, “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. The number of people from the biometrics we have done is over 1,800, but 400 are willing to be rehabilitated.”
She further clarified, “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.
“My commission has worked out a plan which will be unveiled at a peace summit on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, that captures everything and ensures that these people graduate and are given certificates”, she said.