By our reporter|The Commander of the Four Special Forces command, Doma local government area, Brigadier General Maude Ali Gadzama has confirmed the killing of Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana.
Gadzama said on Tuesday that Gana was killed in a firefight with military personnel.
However, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said soldiers snatched Gana from a government convoy of repentant militants in Gboko.
Earlier on Tuesday, Gana, along with 172 militia boys, had reportedly surrendered amid traditional rulers, priests, and local government officials in Katsina-Ala local government in Benue.
They were on their way to Makurdi when they were intercepted by military officials, Ortom said.
He expressed shock over the arrest and killing of Terwase Akwaza, popularly known Gana by military authorities.
“Shortly after we left the briefing yesterday (Tuesday night), there was a press statement from the military special forces in Doma, Nasarawa State indicating that Gana had been killed,” he said.
Ortom added that he was still awaiting briefing from the Commander Operation Ayem A Kpatuma in Doma, Major General Moundhey Gadzama Ali who promised he was coming to brief him on their operation.
The governor stated that five repentant youths from Ukum Local Government Area who were among those arrested by the Nigerian Army were released and were conveyed to the Government House in Makurdi by the Council Chairman of Ukum, Hon. Stephen Ayua to be part of the amnesty offer.
He maintained that until Ali briefs him on the circumstances which led to the killing of Gana, he would not jump into conclusion.
“He (Ali) did said there was a shoot out. I don’t want to join issues with security agencies but I have a responsibility to protect lives and property,” the governor added.
Ortom, therefore, urged the people of Sankera to remain calm as he was still investigating circumstances surrounding the arrest and killing of Gana before taking action on the matter, stressing that the amnesty for repentant outlaws was not truncated.
In 2015, Gana was offered an amnesty but returned to his alleged criminal activities.
In 2017, the Nigerian police declared Gana wanted after he was alleged to have killed “several innocent persons”.
The Benue State Government, at the time, placed a N10 million naira bounty on him.
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