No fewer than 1,000 militias are currently occupying forests in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
Chairman of Ukum LGA, Jonathan Modi, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi, on Saturday.
Ukum LGA is one of the notorious local government areas in the Sankera axis (the axis comprising Ukum, Logo and Katana Ala LGAs), which is the flashpoint of criminality in the state.
The militias, according to the chairman, belong to two splinter group leaders, known as Full Fire and Chain, who sprouted after the military killed the warlord, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana in September 2020.
Ukum council boss described the local government as a haven of criminals under the watch of Full Fire and Chain who daily recruit many boys living permanently in the forest and bushes from where they launch attack.
The local government chairman, however, said the council had a success story to tell as many of the militias now embraced peace, following his efforts in collaboration with traditional and religious leaders.
To repose confidence in the repentant militias, the council boss said he had advised against arresting any of them on account of their past nefarious activities.
According to him, through interactions and engagements, over 300 bandits had already come out of the forest to embrace peace.
He said, “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 the farm, that he wants to rest, and that he is tired of being in the bush.
“I do talk to these boys, we snapped pictures with them and I have been giving them that confidence. There are many.
“We have over 1,000 of them in Ukum LGA alone. I don’t know of other local government areas in the Sankara axis yet, but in Ukum there are over 1,000. And so far, over 300 of them are already out of the forest and we are communicating steadily with each other.”
He said he had given instructions through the security heads 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 per cent and we have achieved peace in the Sankara axis of Ukum Local Government Area since I came on board,” Modi said.
The council boss also said plans were on to rehabilitate the repentant militias.
PUNCH
