The Benue State government has sought federal approval to establish a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) centre aimed at rehabilitating “repentant bandits”.
Josephine Habba, director-general of the state’s commission for peace and reconciliation, disclosed in Makurdi that the proposed centre would focus on individuals of Benue origin who were recruited as foot soldiers by armed groups.
According to her, the state has formally written to Olufemi Oluyede, the chief of defence staff, requesting authorisation to set up the DDR facility.
Habba explained that the DDR framework is a military-backed programme certified and funded by the United Nations, adding that establishing the centre would attract global support and potentially boost troop deployment in the state.
She said biometric data collected by the commission shows more than 1,800 individuals linked to bandit networks, with about 400 already expressing willingness to undergo rehabilitation.
“These persons are not necessarily criminals but were used for dirty jobs because they could be easily recognised if they came out openly,” she said, noting that some abducted women were forced into support roles for the groups.
The DDR programme, expected to last between six months and one year, will include vocational training, community resilience initiatives and the restoration of destroyed livelihoods. Participants will graduate with certificates to aid their reintegration.
Habba said the centre is proposed for Logo LGA and would cost millions of naira. Details of the framework are expected to be unveiled at a peace summit scheduled for February 25, 2026.
Benue has in recent years suffered repeated farmer-herder clashes and kidnapping-for-ransom incidents, leading to deaths and mass displacement.
