Pregnant Women Among 400 Repentant Bandits to Undergo Rehabilitation — Benue Govt

The Benue State Government says some pregnant women who were abducted and forced to work as cooks for armed groups are among 400 individuals who have indicated willingness to surrender and undergo rehabilitation.

The disclosure was made in Makurdi by the Director-General of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Josephine Habba, amid public debate over the state’s plan to establish a rehabilitation centre for repentant bandits. The proposal has drawn criticism from some residents who questioned the rationale behind reintegrating former fighters into their communities.

Habba said the state is seeking approval from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, to establish a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Centre in Logo Local Government Area. She added that the proposed facility would be funded by the United Nations.

According to her, the initiative is designed to rehabilitate individuals who were coerced into criminal activities, particularly in Sankera axis communities covering Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala local government areas, where insecurity has persisted.

Habba explained that many of those identified were kidnapped and forced to support armed groups operating in forested areas. She said some were used as foot soldiers, while others, including pregnant women, were compelled to serve as domestic workers and cooks.

She disclosed that biometric data collected by the commission shows more than 1,800 affected persons, with 400 currently willing to participate in the rehabilitation programme.

“These persons are not necessarily criminals but were taken to carry out tasks for those in the forest who avoid coming out because they fear being recognised,” she said.

Habba also announced that the commission has developed a comprehensive framework for the programme, which will be presented at a peace summit scheduled for February 25, 2026. She said participants who complete the process will graduate and receive certificates as part of efforts to support their reintegration into society.