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
Pope Francis to be buried April 26
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

Pope Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday, the Vatican announced Tuesday, as world leade...

READ ALSO
Six dead in Okene Accident: Akpoti-Uduaghan Urges Immediate Road Safety Reforms
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

KOGI, Nigeria - Following a tragic auto accident in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the loss of...

READ ALSO
Plateau NBA expresses outrage over violence, urges FG to protect citizens
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

PLATEAU, Nigeria - Due to the assaults and homicides occurring in Plateau State by alleged Fulani mi...

READ ALSO
LASG reports over 517,000 traffic violations amid enhanced road safety measures
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government on Tuesday revealed that from May 2024 to March 2025, mo...

READ ALSO
Police Inspector Dies by Suicide in Port Harcourt
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

RIVERS, Nigeria - A Police Inspector identified as Maxwell Zabu, who was attached to a former Chairm...

READ ALSO
LASG celebrates two million passengers on blue rail, highlights transportation achievements
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 22, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria (NAN) - The Lagos State Government has announced that over two million passengers hav...

READ ALSO
FG announces complete closure of Ijora bridge for urgent repairs April 27
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 22, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria (NAN) - The Federal Government has declared a complete closure of the Ijora Bridge in...

READ ALSO
UPDATE: Death Toll Rises to Seven Following Lagos Building Collapse
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 21, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - Two more victims of the disastrous collapse of the three-storey building in the Ojo...

OUR CHANNELS:

2face get appointment as technical adviser to Benue Govt.
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia    has appointed music legend, Innocent Idibia...


Nigeria's Economic Reforms Boost Sovereign Credit Profile - IMF
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

The Assistant Director for Global Markets at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Jason Wu,  ...


Six dead in Okene Accident: Akpoti-Uduaghan Urges Immediate Road Safety Reforms
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

KOGI, Nigeria - Following a tragic auto accident in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the loss of...


Plateau NBA expresses outrage over violence, urges FG to protect citizens
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

PLATEAU, Nigeria - Due to the assaults and homicides occurring in Plateau State by alleged Fulani mi...


LASG reports over 517,000 traffic violations amid enhanced road safety measures
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government on Tuesday revealed that from May 2024 to March 2025, mo...


Police Inspector Dies by Suicide in Port Harcourt
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

RIVERS, Nigeria - A Police Inspector identified as Maxwell Zabu, who was attached to a former Chairm...


Tinubu lauds ECOWAS for regional integration, economic progress at golden jubilee
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has praised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for promoti...


LASG celebrates two million passengers on blue rail, highlights transportation achievements
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 23, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria (NAN) - The Lagos State Government has announced that over two million passengers hav...


FG aims to upgrade 2,701 PHC to enhance healthcare access across Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

The Federal Government, via the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has reveal...


Education minister urges colleges to embrace dual degree system
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 24, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria (NAN) - The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has called on stakeholders in Co...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu