Aondoakaa Raises Alarm as Bandits Relocate From Sokoto to Benue After US-Backed Airstrikes

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Former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, has raised fresh security concerns over what he describes as a strategic relocation of armed groups from Sokoto State into Benue communities. His remarks come in the wake of reported Christmas Day airstrikes in Sokoto said to have been carried out with United States support.

Speaking during a televised interview, Aondoakaa suggested that the pressure mounted on bandit enclaves in the North-West may have triggered a migration of the groups toward rural settlements in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. According to him, the movement has resulted in a troubling expansion of insecurity in the Middle Belt region.

Villages Under Pressure

Aondoakaa painted a stark picture of the situation in Ukum, claiming that a significant portion of its wards has fallen under the influence of the armed elements. He warned that entire communities now face displacement risks and economic disruption.

Among the most alarming aspects of the reported incursion, he noted, is the proximity of the armed groups to Zaki-Biam — a major agricultural hub renowned for its yam market. With the bandits allegedly operating just a few kilometres away, he described the development as a serious threat not only to local livelihoods but also to broader food supply chains.

Call for Expanded Military Collaboration

The former justice minister urged the Federal Government to replicate the kind of coordinated security response reportedly deployed in Sokoto. In his view, wherever criminal networks regroup, decisive aerial and ground operations must follow swiftly to prevent entrenchment.

He argued that if domestic operational capacity faces constraints, authorities should explore international collaboration similar to that reportedly seen during the Sokoto air operations. The goal, he said, is to deny such groups the space to reorganise and expand.

Spillover Beyond Benue

Beyond Benue, Aondoakaa linked recent disturbances in Oyo State to what he described as the broader migration pattern of criminal networks. He emphasized that insecurity in one region can quickly spill into others if proactive containment measures are not sustained.

Analysis: A Shifting Security Landscape

Security analysts often note that intensified military pressure in one area can push armed groups to seek refuge elsewhere, especially in porous rural zones. If Aondoakaa’s assertions hold, the relocation pattern underscores the fluid nature of bandit networks and the importance of coordinated, nationwide counterinsurgency strategies.

The proximity of armed groups to economically strategic centres such as Zaki-Biam raises additional concerns about potential disruption of agricultural production and trade. Long-term stability, experts argue, will depend not only on aerial strikes but also on intelligence gathering, community engagement, and strengthened border surveillance between states.

As authorities assess the evolving threat landscape, the call for broader collaboration and rapid response highlights the urgency of containing insecurity before it deepens across new fronts.

TAGS: bandits