From Vincent Nyinongu, Makurdi.

From Vincent Nyoyongu, MAKURDI

The Most wanted  man in Benue state, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana Tuesday surfaced in public for the first time in about four years as he accepted to embrace peace and abandon criminality.

The notorious criminal suspect arrived  Akume Atongo stadium, Katsina- Ala in company of his gang members to surrender arms in response to the amnsety programme of the state Governor, Samuel Ortom.

He was received by a jubilant crowd of people who hitherto lived in fear and dared not even discuss his many atrocities in public.

The Benue state government had earlier placed a N50 million ransom  on his head, for credible  information that would lead to his arrest.

Although Gana was for many years at large, some.of his Liutenants  were either arrested or taken out by security agencies in various operations.

In  a meeting last week,  leaders of Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state, were said to have reached out to Ortom and pleaded for Gana’s pardon through the Amnesty process.

Gana on other hand was said to have accepted to stop his activities and return to normal life.

The leaders in the area, who took the decision after its meeting held in Katsina-Ala included all elected representatives, traditional rulers, religious leaders and some youth leaders, all of whom sent a delegation to  Governor Samuel Ortom to seek pardon for Gana, a source close to the meeting told DAILY ASSET.

As part of efforts to grant amnesty to the wanted man, a special security meeting held at Government house  Makurdi on Tuesday, with almost all the heads of the security agencies in the state in attendance.

The meeting,  which took a break at about 1pm, reconvened at about 4pm, to fine tune arrangements for formal pardon of the wanted man.

Gana was  expected in Government House Makurdi, for formal presentation to the security chiefsand the press as at press time. 

The amnesty granted yesterday would be the second time  since the man who was almost invincible was first granted amnesty in 2016. He has surrendered his arms and was offered revenue consultancy contracts by the state government aa part of rhe rehabilitation programme before he renounced the agreement and returned to the bush.

Gana and dozens of his youthful gang members have been severally accused of various crimes including kidnapping, armed rubbery, violent attacks and killings  in parts of Benue and the communities around the  Taraba state boundary. 

Former Governor of Benue State and Senator for Benue North East Senatorial District, Dr Gabriel Suswam was said to have worked actively the Governor to broker the meetings that led to Gana’ s surrender.

Military Intercepts K/Ala Council Chairman Car, Arrests

Thirty personnel of the Nigeria Military Tuesday ambushed and seized the wanted militia man, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana towards Yandev Round About in Gboko Local Council Area of Benue State.

Gana, alongside others were coming from Katsina-Ala to Makurdi for the amnesty they were offered by Governor Ortom to lay down arms.
Soruce said, men of the Nigeria Military used a trailer truck to narrow the road and slow vehicular movement where they searched for the vehicle suspected to be conveying the wanted kingpin to the programme in Makurdi.

On discovering that he was in the official vehicle of the Katsinal-Ala Local Government Chairman, Mr. Alfred Atera, they hurled out the chairman with his driver from the vehicle and drove Gana to unknown destination.
Governor Samuel Ortom had declared Gana wanted and placed a bounty in the sum of five, ten and five million for anyone with useful information on his whereabout. However, due to continuous crises in the Sankera axis of the State where Gana hails from, the Governor opted for a truce and granted another amnesty to Terwase Akwaza and other suspected bandits in the area.

Recall that Gana was granted Amnesty by Governor Ortom in 2016, but later fled following his alleged involvement in the murder of Denen Igbana.

Military Ambush Gana, Others On Their Way To Makurdi For Amnesty.    From Vincent Nyinongu, Makurdi. 

Over thirty personnel of the Nigeria Military today ambushed and seized the wanted militia man, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana towards Yandev Round About in Gboko Local Council Area of Benue State.

Gana, alongside others were coming from Katsina-Ala to Makurdi for the amnesty they were offered by Governor Ortom to lay down arms.
Soruce said, men of the Nigeria Military used a trailer truck to narrow the road and slow vehicular movement where they searched for the vehicle suspected to be conveying the wanted kingpin to the programme in Makurdi.
On discovering that he was in the official vehicle of the Katsinal-Ala Local Government Chairman, Mr. Alfred Atera, they hurled out the chairman with his driver from the vehicle and drove Gana to unknown destination.
Governor Samuel Ortom had declared Gana wanted and placed a bounty in the sum of five, ten and five million for anyone with useful information on his whereabout. However, due to continuous crises in the Sankera axis of the State where Gana hails from, the Governor opted for a truce and granted another amnesty to Terwase Akwaza and other suspected bandits in the area.
Recall that Gana was granted Amnesty by Governor Ortom in 2016, but later fled following his alleged involvement in the murder of Denen Igbana.
Ends.