Controversy has continued to trail the death of wanted Benue’s gang leader, Terwase Akwaza alias Gana, who was killed by soldiers on Tuesday.
While the military said Gana was killed in a gun battle with operatives, Governor Sam Ortom insisted that he was earlier seized from a convoy of repentant militants on its way to the Government House for a peace meeting.
Evidently, Gana had surrendered for the amnesty programme in Katsina Ala township stadium in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue North senatorial zone on Tuesday.
It was the second time he was giving up himself as he had surrendered catchment of arms and ammunition to Benue amnesty programme of Governor Samuel Ortom, but returned to the forest after his relationship with the administration went sour.
The deceased, who was accused of the murder of Governor Ortom’s aide on security, Denen Igbana, was also believed to be the brain behind criminal activities in Sankera geo – political zone comprising Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala Local Government areas and the entire Zone A senatorial.
With his worrisome and recurrent criminal activities which involved alleged murder of innocent people, a bounty of N10m was placed on him.
However, on Tuesday, Governor Samuel Ortom revealed that Gana was arrested at a security checkpoint on the outskirt of Gboko by troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke.
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.
But hours later, Commander of the Four Special Forces Command, Doma Local Government area, Brigadier General Maude Ali Gadzama, said that Gana was gunned down during a battle with operatives.
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