Following recent U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, has raised concerns that bandits are relocating to Benue State, putting residents and vital local markets at risk.
Speaking on Thursday, Aondoakaa said the movement of armed groups began after the Sokoto strikes, with many now reportedly operating in Ukum Local Government Area.
He warned that 10 out of 13 wards in Ukum have been overrun, and that the bandits are positioned less than three kilometers from the Zaki-Biam main market, a key hub for the country’s yam production.
Aondoakaa called for closer collaboration between the Nigerian and US governments to tackle the crisis. “There must be coordinated action to flush out these bandits wherever they regroup. This could involve deploying the Nigerian Air Force or leveraging international support, as was done in Sokoto, to prevent further attacks and restore security”, he said.
He stressed that without such measures, the growing concentration of bandits could escalate violence and disrupt communities across Benue State.
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