From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The new Executive Chairman Ukum local government area of Benue State, Jonathan Modi said over 1000 armed militia men are occupying forests and bushes in his domain.
Modi who disclosed this in an interview with Journalists in Makurdi at the birthday of the Chief of Staff to Governor Hyacinth Alia Paul Biam at the weekend.
He said the criminal groups belong to the two (2) dangerous militia groups, Full Fire and Chain.
Ukum LGA is one of the three local government areas including Katsina-Ala and Logo LGs that form the Sankera axis which has been bedeviled by incident of incessant kidnappings, maiming, killings, displacements of people, and disruption of socio-economic activities as well as holding of communities hostage for ransom.
He lamented that what they have been experiencing is mafia groups that have recruited so many boys who permanently live in the forest and bushes where they come from to unleash terror on people of the area.
He, however, explained that on assumption of office, he engaged the militias and some of them have volunteered to leave the forest, just as he ordered that nobody should be arrested on account of being a militia.
Modi also averred that, he has created a platform where he engages the criminals as way of instilling confidence and appealing to them on the need to embrace peace and restore security to Zaki- Biam and the entire Ukum axis.
According to him, “through such interactions and engagements, over 300 of armed bandits have already come out of the forest to embrace peace, while more are still expected to be out.
“Just a few days ago, Bishop of Katsina-Ala Catholic Diocese 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. He said he wants his people to go back to farm.
“I do talk to these boys. We took pictures together and I have been giving them that confidence. They are many in number.
“We have over 1000 of them in Ukum LGA alone. I don’t know of other local government areas in Sankera axis. And so far, over 300 of them are already out of the forest and we are communicating steadily with each other.
“Most of them have confessed that for the past three to four years, they have not seen the town called Zaki- Biam. That confession is on record. I made that possible because I was called to serve.
“I am well prepared for this job of chairmanship and I am barely three weeks in office and I have done a lot in the aspect of security.
“I used diplomacy to bring these boys out of their hideouts. It’s a brain work, not a magic, I have to think because am a youth and I know what is good for the youths. I have that confidence and for me to do that, most of them have been calling that I made them to come to Zaki Biam town. Right now as I talk to yo, peace has returned to Ukum LGA up to 75%. I have engaged the militia men and they are out now. “
