The Military in Benue State has allegedly intercepted and arrested the notorious Benue Kingpin, Terwase Akwaza a.k.a Gana on his way to Makurdi to receive a second amnesty from state government.
Leaders of Sankara in Ukum, Katsina Ala and Logo local government areas, after a meeting recently, had pleaded with state government to grant second amnesty to their repented armed youths to which the Governor obliged.
Gana, a militia gang leader, and over 180 other youths were on their way to Government House in Makurdi with leaders from that axis including traditional rulers, clergymen as well as politicians when they were accosted and arrested at Yandev and some of them taken away to unknown destination.
The leaders were on their way to present them to the state government for state pardon when they were allegedly rounded up.
Gana, had been on the wanted list of security operatives after he was fingered in various criminal acts including the murder of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Ortom on Special Security, Denen Igbana.
He was also alleged to be behind the various criminal acts in the Sankara areas of the state.
A bounty of N5 million was earlier promised anyone who could give information that would lead to Gana’s arrest in 2018. The ransom was later upped to N10 million and then N50 million.
However, the militia kingpin who had enjoyed the first amnesty under Governor Ortom’s government had resurfaced after four years in hiding to surrender to government for a second amnesty when the incident occurred, at Masaje area, few kilometers before Yandev roundabouts along Gboko-Makurdi road.
Confirming the incident, Ortom said over 182 repentant armed youths; 67 from Logo, 25 from Ukum and over 80 from Katsina-Ala, left Sankara to Makurdi but only 42 arrived.
The Governor said members of Security Council which had been working round the clock had met by 10a.m on Tuesday after which they left and agreed to reconvene by 4p.m when information reached them that soldiers had apprehended Gana and taken him away in the official car of the Chairman of Katsina-Ala local government area at a check point around Yandev, Gboko local government area.
“Several other repentant criminals were taken away with him. It is a bit of a confusion and we are taken aback because the security agencies are aware of what we are doing. It was not a hidden thing. I quickly got to Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Maj. Gen Adeyemi Yekini who confirmed the arrest of Gana. He said they carried out an operation and that he will get back to me.
“I expect that during war situation, if people come out on their own to surrender, they should be protected. I hope these persons will be protected since they willingly surrendered themselves. I can’t say more until I get more briefing from the military.”
Ortom also said the soldiers took away their arms and we only have remnants of what the youth from Logo local government surrendered.
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“I hope the military will tell me the number of weapons retrieved. I had to make an appeal to the military because of the weight of those involved including Sen. Gabriel Suswam, the Tor Sankera, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, the Church and other stakeholders who meant well.
Addressing the repentant youths, Ortom welcomed and commended them for choosing the path of honour saying there was no honour in what they were doing.
“This is the last time we are giving this opportunity to you. There is no condition attached to the amnesty. We welcome you back to the society and if you choose to do the right thing, we will support you as a government but if you get yourself in any criminality, we will not stop the security agencies from doing their job. We have told the State Security Council to profile you, and like the Bible will say, go and sin no more”, Ortom said.
Meanwhile, he appealed to the Sankara people to remain calm and allow him and their leaders to get to the root of the matter.
