What happened that day was unexpected. Indeed, everyone was taken by surprise when members of some dreaded gangs came out to openly recant their criminal activities and capping their confession with the return of arms and with an appeal for prayers and forgiveness over the atrocities they had committed in the past.

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 ofgood newsbecause 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, andeven 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 whohinted 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.” (Vanguard)