The Nigerian Army has reportedly arrested wanted Benue’s most wanted warlord, Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana on Tuesday evening along Yandev roundabouts in Gboko, Benue State.
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.
A bounty of N5 million was initially promised anyone who could give a useful information that would lead to Gana’s arrest in 2018. The ransom was later jacked up to N10 million and then N50million.
The militia kingpin who had enjoyed amnesty under Governor Ortom’s government had resurfaced after being in hiding for four years to surrender to government for a second amnesty following appeals by elders of the Sankera intermediate area.
It was gathered that Gana willingly surrendered himself along with over 100 members of his group to the prominent sons of the Sankera Area including traditional rulers and clergymen and politicians.
The prominent Benue leaders had gone to Katsina-Ala Local Government to receive the repentant militias including Gana and were on their way to present them to the state government when they were allegedly rounded up by the military at Yandev.
It was learnt that the military searched the long convoy coming from Katsina-Ala and took away Gana while the other repentant militia were allowed to proceed to Makurdi.
It was further learnt that the military, after intercepting the convoy, searched all the vehicles until they saw Gana in the Council Chairman’s vehicle, asked other occupants of the vehicle to disembark and then took Gana away in the same vehicle.
It was not yet clear where Gana had been taken to, but rumours have it that he might have been taken to a military base in Abuja.
Confirming the report, Governor Ortom said a total number of 142 militias including Gana had embraced the amnesty programme initiated by the stakeholders in the three LGAs and with the support of the state government and security agencies.
He added that the military team intercepted the convoy of the militias, including the Local Government Chairman around Gboko on their way to Makurdi and took them to unknown decision.
The governor warned the repentant militias not to go back to their past evil ways even as he said he is yet to be briefed by the team of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) of the military who claimed responsibility for the arrest of Gana and his team.
KanyiDaily has reported how Gana escaped the the Nigerian Army with gunshot wounds four months ago, during a raid operation in his Benue hideout.
