Friday, November 8, 2024 -The events of that day were entirely unanticipated. To everyone’s surprise, members of notorious gangs stepped forward, publicly renouncing their criminal activities, surrendering their weapons, and asking for prayers and forgiveness for their past actions.
This open show of repentance, and readiness to turn in their weapons of
war and embrace peace engendered a soul lifting moment which prompted some
natives to cry for joy.
It was also a climax of good news because this happened a
few weeks after the Chairman of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State,
Jonathan Modi, declared that no fewer than 300 armed militia members had
renounced banditry and turned a new leaf in that axis of the town. Before then
members of the notorious group had been killing, maiming and also destroying
properties, apart from kidnapping, among other crimes.
In fact, the general impression before now was that these armed gangs
run the affairs of the three LGAs of Ukum, Kastina-Ala, and Logo that make up
what is called Sankera axis of Benue which are famed for massive yam production
as well as some cash crops.
Regrettably, the despicable acts of the gangs crippled the farming
activities of the people for almost a decade and turned the place into a
breeding ground for criminals.
The declaration by the Ukul LGA chairman that the large number of
militia were ready to turn in their arms and embrace peace came as a welcome
news to the frightened natives and neighbours who have been living as victims
of armed gangs over the years.
But that news did not come as a surprise to many in the community
because some of the dreaded militant leaders have in recent times begun to show
up in the public space for the first time and pleading for peace and assuring
that they would personally put an end to the incessant bloodletting in the
area.
In fact many, who turned up for such gatherings were taken aback to see
for the first time the young men whose names sent shivers down the spines of
the rich, the poor, and even the highly placed leaders in the community.
Young men who were known by appellations such as ‘Chen’, ‘Full Fire’ and
‘Overall Konyo’ who are proteges of the late dreaded Terwase Agwaza, aka
‘Gana’, were seen for the first time in public addressing gatherings of
religious, traditional and community leaders as well as the rural dwellers who
had over the years suffered the brunt of their activities and rivalry,
including bloody fights for supremacy and dominance.
The uncanny public appearance of these dreaded young men left everyone
in utter shock and disbelief.
But over the weeks and months, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of
Katsina-Ala, the Most Rev. Isaac Dugu, has been spearheading the peace
initiative to have all the ‘bad boys’ turn in their weapons and embrace the
peace for the purpose of making the state more peaceful and safer for economic
prosperity to return.
The bishop had taken his peace move to every public event in Chito, Zaki
Biam and other key towns where the gang leaders in company of their ‘troops’
who were in hundreds met with the cleric and addressed the people, pledging to
drop their arms and embrace new life of peace.
Arewa Voice understands that during the meetings, the leaders of the
gangs and their boys restated total commitment to restoration of peace in
Sankera.
Before the final surrender and acceptance of peace, the chairman of
Ukum, said: “Two days ago the Bishop was with ‘Full Fire’ and they spoke.
As I speak to you, the young man has already surrendered himself. Apart from
engaging the Bishop, he said he was no longer interested in the underworld
business. He said he wants his people to go back to farm, that he wants to rest
because he is tired of being in the bush.
“The Bishop has also engaged the other group headed by ‘Chen’. I have
also been talking to them as a brother and I have given them a platform. I
asked them to come out and I have already given the instruction through our
security heads in Ukum LGA that nobody should be arrested since they are ready
to embrace peace.”
The repentant militia leaders were also said to have urged for prayers
and forgiveness from the people, assuring to maintain the peace in the
communities.
The Bishop at the various meetings reminded the militia leaders and
their groups on the need for them to change their ways and embrace peace.
While the peace initiative of Bishop Dugu continues to elicit thunderous
applause in the state after years of failed attempts by past governments and
leaders of the area to bring the warlords to a peace table, it is expected that
the government would seize the initiative to ensure lasting peace in Sankera.
Bishop Dugu, who is highly revered by the people of Sankera, was said to
have taken the responsibility of helping the government and the people to make
peace reign in the troubled Sankera part of the state after several failed
attempts by successive governments and the unsuccessful declaration of amnesty
for repentant bandits in the past.
With the latest initiative, it is expected that the Benue State
government may grant amnesty to the repentant bandits as no formal statement to
that effect has been issued by the Hyacinth Alia-led administration.
But an indication as to what might happen thereafter was given by the
Chairman of Ukum LGA who hinted that the Governor would certainly engage
with the Bishop on the peace initiative and on that basis make a declaration on
the future of the repentant bandits.
Modi emphasised that the Bishop will give his report to the Governor and
the Governor is going to engage the boys one by one. It is after their
engagement with the Governor that we will know what is there for them.
“But at the level of local government, we are trying our best because
you know it is not easy to engage those kind of boys and we have been sending
them stipends because it is not easy to keep them.
“They are out of the bush and they need resources. Some of them have
been talking about their families and all that. So I have been trying to see
how I can send them some stipends to keep them. And I know that the Governor of
Benue State has a bigger plan for the boys.”
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