Benue Govt: Pregnant Women Among 400 Repentant Local Bandits

Benue State government has revealed that pregnant women who were abducted and turned into bandits’ cooks are among 400 repentant local bandits willing to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

Recall that there was an uproar in Benue State recently over the proposed rehabilitation centre for bandits, as some residents questioned the state government’s motives b.

Speaking with journalists in Makurdi, the director-general, Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Josephine Habba, gave reasons why the state government was seeking approval from the federal government to establish a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre.

Habba explained that the centre will rehabilitate some of the local bandits.

The director-general lamented the security situation in Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas, which she said needed to be tackled headlong.

She stated that the proposed centre, when approved by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, will be sited in Logo local government area and will be funded by the United Nations (UN).

According to her, “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.”

Habba added, “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.