Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Over 1,000 militias occupying forest, Benue LG chair cries out

POSTED ON October 28, 2024 •   Metro      BY Benedicta Bassey
Militias invasion of Benue community

Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, Jonathan Modi, said no fewer than 1,000 militias are currently occupying forest in the local government.

He disclosed this to journalists in Markudi on Sunday.

Ukum LGA is known as 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.

Modi described the local government as a den 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.

He noted that many of the militias have embraced peace, following his collaborative efforts 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.

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 also reiterated plans to rehabilitate repentant militias.

READ ALSO
Adeyeye urges capital punishment for drug traffickers amidst N1trn confiscation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The ongoing fight against counterfeit and substandard medical products by the National Agency for Fo...

READ ALSO
NHRC calls for Justice, Preventive Measures after Uromi mob killing
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria -  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has praised the prompt actions ta...

READ ALSO
Army arrest 39 Oil thieves, dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in Niger Delta
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

NIGER DELTA - In a significant setback for oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region, the troops of the...

READ ALSO
FG announce independence bridge closure begins April 1
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Federal Government has announced the closure of the Independence Bridge (Marina...

READ ALSO
Three Nigerians in US plead guilty in $4.5m Money laundering case
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 31, 2025 0

Three Nigerians residing in the United States Olumide Olorunfunmi, Samson Amos, and Emmanuel Unuigbe...

READ ALSO
FRSC calls for Safe driving practices amid Eid-el-Fitr festivities
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 30, 2025 0

OGUN, Nigeria - The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State has issued a warning to motorists...

READ ALSO
Wamakko facilitates release of 60 inmates in Sokoto, Promotes non-custodial sentencing
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 27, 2025 0

SOKOTO, Nigeria -  The representative of Sokoto-North senatorial district, Aliyu Wamakko, has a...

READ ALSO
Collaboration for Transparency: BPP, ICPC sign MOU to combat procurement fraud
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale  Adedokun, has und...

OUR CHANNELS:

CBN's strategic policies lead to significant increase in Nigeria's Net FX reserves
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

Nigeria's net foreign exchange reserves (NFER) stood at $23.11 billion at the conclusion of the prev...


Adeyeye urges capital punishment for drug traffickers amidst N1trn confiscation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The ongoing fight against counterfeit and substandard medical products by the National Agency for Fo...


FG highlights need for data sharing, collaboration to tackle border crimes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

Nigeria has called for cooperation with Sahel and West African nations regarding information and dat...


Bobrisky calls out 2Baba for choosing Natasha over Annie
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

Controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye Olanrewaju, better known as Bobrisky, has voiced his disap...


NHRC calls for Justice, Preventive Measures after Uromi mob killing
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria -  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has praised the prompt actions ta...


Emir Sunusi's Durbar highlights Nigeria's Rich cultural legacy amidst challenges
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

DUTSE, Nigeria - Women with veils cried out joyfully as the sounds of trumpets and hunting guns reso...


APC caution Cross River members against unauthorize legal suits
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

RIVERS, Nigeria - The cross Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress has wa...


Sahel States' 0.5% Levy on Imports threatens Regional Trade and Economic Unity
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have intensified their separation from the regional economic bloc by i...


NSIA reports ₦3.74Trn profit, celebrating 12 years of continuous profitability
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - THE Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) reported generating approximately...


Army arrest 39 Oil thieves, dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in Niger Delta
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 1, 2025 0

NIGER DELTA - In a significant setback for oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region, the troops of the...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu