The Nigeria Army has confirmed the killing of Mr. Terwase Akwaza, alias “Gana,” said to be the ‘most wanted criminal’ in Benue state.
The Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa state, Maj. Gen. Moundhey Ali, confirmed this to newsmen late on Tuesday.
He said that Gana was killed at a roadblock mounted by the Army along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road following exchange of gunfire.
The Next Edition had reported earlier that Military had intercepted and arrested the notorious Kingpin, 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 Samuel Ortom agreed.
Gana 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 at Yandev.
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.
Benue state government had in 2015 granted amnesty to over 500 persons including Gana, who were terrorising parts of Benue and Taraba states, but most of them relapsed into criminality.
Gana was later in 2017, declared wanted by the Police.
Speaking on the incident, Ali said: “At about 12:00 hours today (Tuesday), we received strategic information on the movement of the dreaded bandit Terwase Akwaza Agbadu AKA Gana along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road.
“Troops of Operation ‘Ayem Akpatuma III’ moved swiftly and mounted snap roadblocks along the routes.
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“At about 13:00 hours, there was a meeting engagement with the convoy of Gana, a shoot out ensued and the bandit was killed.”
The Commander also said that 40 armed members of Gana’s gang were captured during the operation.
He said the captured gang members were in Army custody and would be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution.
Ali also disclosed that several rifles, pump action guns, ammunition, charms and explosives among other items were recovered from the gang.
He said Gana’s corpse had been deposited in an undisclosed hospital mortuary.
