Amid rising tensions between Nasarawa and Benue communities over the origin of armed groups responsible for killings and mass displacement in the border areas, rural dwellers in Nasarawa State have described a vast network of forest corridors, transit routes and temporary camps used by terrorists operating across Nigeria’s middle belt.
The residents say the porous boundary communities and thick forest belts stretching across Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Kwara states have steadily evolved into strategic movement corridors for armed groups — enabling them to launch attacks, regroup and retreat with little resistance from security forces.
They accused some local chiefs in boundary communities of complicity, disclosing that some of these traditional rulers even misled security operatives who are on the hunt for the terrorists. Noting that “If they engage us and invite us, we will come and show them everywhere,” they alleged that the failure of the authorities to get them involved only means they don’t want to decisively deal with the bandits.
Speaking on behalf of the locals, President of the United Farmers Association, Kadarko, in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Chief Denen Gbongbon, disclosed that communities in Obi, Keana and Doma local councils, have, for years, served as transit points and camps for armed groups heading toward Benue.
According to him, “For a long time now, Obi, Keana and Doma have been serving as transit routes and even temporary camps for these bandits. The routes are very clear. They are not hidden. In Kadarko, which is in Keana LGA, the major roads are between Keana and Doma. They come in through Barkin Coaltar, penetrate toward Torkura and from there move straight into Benue.”
The community leader pointed out that the Akala forest in Obi LGA, which connects to Keana, functions as a major staging ground.
“They camp in Akala forest. That forest connects Keana too. They have camps there. From there, they connect through Akeleku Sidi, Akaba, Ahume; all these communities are in Obi LGA, and there are contiguous bushes linking Kadarko where they also have camps,” he told Vanguard.
Describing their movement pattern, he added: “They follow a valley behind Agyragu. The abandoned railway corridor has become a strategic pathway. They pass between Ude and Yelwata through the abandoned railway station. They follow the rail tracks into Benue axis and begin to expand from there,” he alleged.
Gbongbon further disclosed that local farmers and villagers frequently sight the gunmen moving in groups, adding that “as they are moving, we are seeing them. Sometimes they carry arms openly. Sometimes they come with cattle. At other times, they ride Bajaj motorcycles, three persons per bike, following that same route.”
He said community members often provide intelligence to security agencies, but lamented what he described as lack of decisive follow-up.
“People in the farms see them and give us information. We pass the information to security. But it appears security is not ready to follow up. That is their major route; they keep passing there,” he said, insisting that authorities cannot claim ignorance.
“Government is fully aware. We have written severally to the Nasarawa State Government, to the local governments, to the governor himself and to every security architecture, including the media. So, how can the government pretend not to be aware?” he queried.
In a more explosive claim against traditional rulers, Gbongbon said, “The issue started from land-grabbing. Some Alago chiefs were accused of harbouring these people. They sold land to them, land that belongs to Tiv and some Eggon farmers.
“The people did not just come here. They acquired land from those chiefs. After settling, they brought militias to protect the land. That is how the criminal elements came in.”
Oh how some traditional rulers misled security operatives, he said, “Whenever security personnel are deployed, some chiefs allegedly deceive them by giving false information. They don’t take them to the exact location where these bandits are camped. Instead, they tip them off to go under cover.”
Gbongbon referenced the arrest of an Ardo in Kadarko in connection with the June 2025 Yelwata killings. “Do you know that over 26 AK-47 rifles were reportedly recovered in his camp in Kadarko? If security agencies are serious, they would interrogate the chiefs who appointed him. Did they check his background?” he asked.
