Benue Government Clarifies Proposed DDR Centre Targets Coerced Youths, Not Hardened Bandits

The Benue State Government has firmly dismissed circulating reports suggesting it intends to establish a rehabilitation centre specifically for hardened bandits, describing such claims as misleading, politically motivated, and deliberately distorted.

In an official statement issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, the government clarified that the proposed facility—officially termed the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Centre—is designed to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of vulnerable youths who have allegedly been coerced or forced into criminal gangs, particularly within the volatile Sankera axis spanning Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala local government areas.

Addressing journalists amid growing public concern and speculation, Josephine Habba, Director-General of the Benue State Peace and Reconciliation Commission, emphasized that the initiative must be viewed within the wider context of the state’s long-standing security challenges. She stressed that the centre is not intended to harbour or pamper terrorists or career criminals, but rather to provide structured support—through counselling, skills acquisition, and community reintegration—for young people trapped in cycles of violence due to manipulation, poverty, or coercion by criminal elements.

The clarification comes after widespread online and media reports alleged that Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s administration was planning to “rehabilitate bandits,” prompting backlash from residents, civil society groups, and political opponents who viewed the move as potentially rewarding criminality.

Habba reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes, while underscoring the need for a balanced approach that addresses both enforcement and prevention. She noted that many youths in conflict-prone areas have been drawn into armed groups against their will and that leaving them without alternatives risks perpetuating the cycle of insecurity.

The DDR proposal aligns with broader peace-building efforts by the Alia administration, which has prioritized dialogue, community engagement, and targeted interventions alongside robust security operations to restore lasting peace in Benue. Officials have promised further details on the centre’s structure, funding, and operational safeguards once planning reaches advanced stages.

The statement urged residents and stakeholders to disregard sensational narratives and support genuine efforts aimed at breaking the grip of criminal networks through rehabilitation of the redeemable and prosecution of the irredeemable. The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property while exploring sustainable pathways out of the protracted crisis affecting farming communities and rural populations across the state.