The Benue State Government has formally approached the Federal Government for approval to set up a Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) centre aimed at rehabilitating repentant local bandits in the state.
The Director-General of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Josephine Habba, made this known on Monday while addressing journalists in Makurdi.
Habba explained that the proposed initiative is designed to reform individuals who were drawn into banditry under pressure or difficult circumstances, often serving as foot soldiers for criminal groups operating in forests. According to her, the state government has written to the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, seeking approval to establish the DDR facility specifically for bandits of Benue origin.
She noted that many of those involved were not hardened criminals but were recruited to carry out operations because local bandits feared being identified if they appeared openly. Habba added that some victims, including pregnant women, were abducted and forced into domestic roles for the groups.
From biometric data collected so far, over 1,800 individuals have been profiled, with about 400 expressing readiness to embrace rehabilitation.
Habba described the DDR initiative as a military programme recognised and funded by the United Nations, stressing that establishing the centre would not only attract international attention but also enhance security presence in the state.
She disclosed that her commission has developed a comprehensive framework to be unveiled at a peace summit scheduled for February 25, 2026. The programme, expected to last between six months and one year, will provide structured rehabilitation, after which participants will graduate and receive certificates.
Beyond rehabilitation, the plan includes strengthening community resilience, restoring damaged livelihoods, compensating affected persons where necessary, and rebuilding critical infrastructure such as schools and hospitals to ensure smooth reintegration into society.
Habba further revealed that she and the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop Isaac Dugu, had engaged with the commander of Operation Safe Corridor. She said the state governor was advised to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff to formally request the DDR centre, adding that the CDS has promised to set up a committee to inspect the proposed facility and act on its recommendations if it meets required standards.
The proposed centre is expected to be located in Logo Local Government Area and will cost millions of naira to execute.
The Peace and Reconciliation Commission was established in 2022 and became fully operational in 2023 following repeated attacks on communities across the state. Habba emphasised that the DDR programme forms part of broader strategies to address recurring violence and prevent further conflicts.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has for years grappled with farmer-herder clashes largely driven by disputes over land and water resources. These conflicts, alongside banditry and criminal attacks on villages and transport routes, have led to deaths, displacement, and destruction of property.
Many young men have reportedly been coerced into criminal activities, while women and children have been abducted and forced into support roles. The combination of communal unrest and organised crime has deepened insecurity in the state, prompting authorities to pursue initiatives like the DDR programme as part of efforts to restore lasting peace.