Benue’s most wanted criminal, Gana captured

On Tuesday, Governor Samuel Ortom confirmed the arrest of Benue’s most wanted criminal, Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana, by soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke on the outskirts of Gboko, TopNaija reports.

Ortom disclosed the arrest to newsmen at a news briefing at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi. He said Gana, who had surrendered to the Amnesty programme of his administration, was being escorted to Makurdi on Tuesday when troops of the operation whirl stroke arrested him at a security checkpoint on the outskirts of Gboko.

He said Gana was on his way to the state capital in the company of the Chairman of Katsina-Ala Local Government Council together with some of his gang members.

Ortom also disclosed that he had received 42 ex-criminals from Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala who had denounced criminality and surrendered their arms in Makurdi.

He said that the Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke, Maj. Gen.Adeyemi Yekini, had confirmed to him earlier that they were carrying out an operation and were in possession of the wanted militia leader.

NAN reports that the Benue had in 2015 granted amnesty to over 500 persons including Gana, but most of them had relapsed into criminality.

The governor said following the interception of the military, Gana and several others were whisked away together with arms, adding that only 42 arrived Makurdi.

“General Yekini has confirmed to me that they are carrying out an operation and that he will brief me when they are done and that they are with Gana. So, I am waiting to hear from him,” he said.

He said the State Government would exercise patience until the military briefed him on the matter.