*Says 300 have surrendered
From our correspondent, in Makurdi
The new executive Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, Jonathan Modi has revealed that over 1000 armed militias are occupying forests and bushes in his domain.
Modi who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi at the birthday of the Chief of Staff to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Paul Biam at the weekend, said the criminal groups belong to the two dangerous militias, 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 incessant kidnappings, maiming, killings, displacements of people, and disruption of socio-economic activities as well as holding of communities hostage for ransom.
The council chairman lamented that what they have been experiencing is mafia groups that have recruited so many boys who permanently lived 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 that some of them have volunteered to leave the forest, just as he ordered that nobody should be arrested on account of being a militia member.
Modi also said that he has created a platform where he engages the criminals to instill confidence and appeal 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 embraced peace, while more are still expected to come out.
“Just a few days ago, Bishop of Katsina-Ala Catholic Diocese Dugu was with the in 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 farm, and that he wants to rest, and that he is tired of being in the bush.
“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 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 you peace has returned to Ukum LGA up to 75%. I have engaged the militias and they are out now.
“The traditional rulers are also doing a lot by engaging these boys. Also, the church headed by the Catholic Bishop of Katsina- Ala Diocese, Rev. Fr. Dugu is also doing well by engaging them.
“Despite this efforts, there are still bad eggs and other people out there who are trying to frustrate the whole arrangements and not wanting the boys to come out of the bushes but to continue with the nefarious act of criminality, but by the grace of God at the end of the day, we will succeed”, Modi said..
