The Chairman of Ukum LGA, Jonathan Modi, on Saturday, said that no fewer than 300 armed bandits in the council area have embraced peace and quit the forest.
Modi who disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi explained that prior to the engagements by himself in collaboration with traditional and religious leaders, over 1000 armed bandits were in the forest and bushes within the council territory..
Since the killing of the state terrorist leader, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana by the military in 2020, bandits have held the axis known as the Sankera axis ( comprising of Ukum, Logo and Katana Ala LGAs) hostage, Ukum council became a haven of criminals.
According to the local government chairman, the armed bandits belong to splinter group leaders, known as ‘Full Fire and Chain’.
To repose confidence in the repentant militias, the council boss said that he had advised against arresting any of them on account of their past nefarious activities.
According to him, “through interactions and engagements, over 300 of armed bandits have already came out of the forest to embrace peace, while more are still expected to be out.
“Just a day before yesterday, Bishop Dugu was with the Full Fire group where he engaged the leader, they spoke and the young man has already surrendered himself.
“He said he is no longer interested in criminality and banditry, that he wants his people to go back to farm, that he wants to rest, and that he is tired of being in the bush.
“I myself, do talk to these boys, we snapped pictures with them and I have been given them that confidence. They are many in numbers.
“We have over 1000 of them in Ukum LGA alone. I don’t know of other local government areas in Sankara axis yet, but in Ukum they are over 1000. And so far, over 300 of them are already out of the forest and we are communicating steadily with each other.
“Most of them have confessed that for the past three to four years they have not seen the town called Zaki- Biam. That confess is on record. I made that possible because I was called to serve.
” What am applying is I diplomacy to bring these boys out of their hideouts. It’s a brain work, not a magic, I have to think because am a youth and I know what is good for the youths.
“Also, the church headed by the Catholic Bishop of Katsina- Ala Diocese, Rev. Fr. Dugu is also doing well by engaging them.
“So, today the Bishop has also engaged the other group headed by Chain. I have been talking to them as a brother, as a friend and I have given them a platform and asked them to come out and they have come out. So, I have already given instructions through our security heads that we have in Ukum LGA that nobody should be arrested.
“As I speak with you if you go to Ukum LGA, nobody is going to harass or kidnap you again. Kidnapping has been reduced to 75% and we have achieved 75% peace in Sankara axis of Ukum Local Government Area since I came on board.”
The council boss also said that plans were on the way to rehabilitate the repentant militias, first thing he claimed to have started, is giving stipends to those who have left the forest and embrace peace.
“We are having a thanksgiving service on Sunday (yesterday) tagged ‘peace in Sankara’ and most of the boys will be there.
“At that level, government will be there. After which, the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese is going to give the report to the governor and the governor will engage them(militias) one by one.
” It is after the engagement with the governor that we will know what is meant for them. I know that the governor of Benue State has a bigger plan for them,” Modi said.
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