Rising banditry and insecurity in Benue State have reached a critical point where they now threaten food security, according to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa, SAN.
Speaking on Arise TV, Aondoakaa highlighted that the widespread displacement of farmers who make up roughly 80 per cent of Benue’s population has led to mass abandonment of farmlands. He warned this situation could trigger a far-reaching hunger crisis not only in Benue but potentially across the wider North Central region.
Aondoakaa stated that bandits are increasingly concentrating their operations in the Benue Valley, where entire communities are being overrun, and villages are being destabilised. He cited Ukum Local Government Area as a significant hotspot, where bandits reportedly control 10 of the area’s 13 wards and have established positions less than three kilometres from a major agricultural market — a key hub for yam distribution nationwide.
The ex-AGF stressed that political considerations must be set aside in favour of decisive security action. He called for an urgent and coordinated response by the Nigerian military, including the Nigerian Air Force, to dislodge the bandits and restore rural safety.
Aondoakaa also reiterated his support for international collaboration, specifically with the United States and neighbouring countries, as a force multiplier in tackling entrenched banditry. He emphasised that such cooperation does not undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty but could enhance operational effectiveness in restoring security to affected areas.
The former minister drew parallels with past strategies during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, when a zero-tolerance approach was applied against bandits, urging a return to similar tactics to avert a looming humanitarian crisis.
