Benue Moves to Set Up DDR Centre for 400 Repentant Bandits

The Benue State Government has formally requested approval from the Federal Government to establish a Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) centre for repentant local bandits in the state.
The Director-General of the Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Josephine Habba, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Makurdi. She said the initiative targets individuals who were coerced into serving as foot soldiers for armed bandits.
Habba explained, “These persons are not necessarily criminals. Many were taken in to carry out tasks for armed groups operating in forests. Even pregnant women were abducted and used as cooks. Our biometrics indicate over 1,800 people, but 400 have expressed willingness to undergo rehabilitation.”
She noted that the DDR programme is a military initiative, certified and supported by the United Nations, and would draw both national and international attention to Benue. The project would also enhance the deployment of troops across the state.
“The programme will last six months to one year. Participants will receive training, engage in community restoration, and have their livelihoods rebuilt. Schools, hospitals, and infrastructure will be rehabilitated to ensure a seamless reintegration,” Habba said.
The commission, operational since 2023, was established to address repeated attacks on Benue communities. The proposed DDR centre is expected to be located in Logo Local Government Area, with an estimated cost running into millions of naira.
Habba further disclosed that consultations have been held with local church leaders and military authorities. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has set up a committee to assess the proposed facility.
Benue, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has long been a flashpoint for farmer-herder clashes and banditry, leading to loss of lives, abductions, and destruction of farmlands. The DDR initiative is part of the state’s broader effort to restore peace and stability in affected communities.