Nigeria Army has confirmed the killing of Mr Terwase Akwaza, alias “Gana,” the ‘most wanted criminal’ in Benue state.
The Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa state, Maj. -Gen. Moundhey Ali, told newsmen on Tuesday that Gana was killed at a roadblock mounted by the Army along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road following exchange of gunfire.
Recalled that a vehicle conveying a Benue wanted criminal, Mr Terwase Akawaza popularly known as Gana was Tuesday reportedly intercepted by the military en route Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
Akawaza was said to be on his way to Makurdi in company of leaders of his area, and some clerics for an amnesty programme organised by the Benue state government for criminals in Sankera geo political zone which comprises three local government areas in the state.
He was granted amnesty in 2015 by Governor Samuel Ortom during his first year in office.
He also submitted a total number of 84 guns and other sophisticated weapons of warfare and promised to convince those yet to surrender to do so in the next four weeks.
However, in 2016, Gana was declared wanted after he was accused of murdering one Mr Denen Igbana, a special assistant to the Benue State Governor on Special Security.
Governor Samuel Ortom also placed a N50 million bounty for anyone who would provide information that would lead to the arrest of Mr Akawaza.
But following the recent amnesty declared by the governor for criminals in Sankera geo-political zone which comprises Katsina Ala, Ukum and Logo, Gana had allegedly stepped forward to be given a second chance to benefit from the programme.
It was learnt that but while on his way to Makurdi, where the governor and other stakeholders had gathered to witness how Akwaza and others who denounced criminality will be granted a state pardon, troupes of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), reportedly intercepted the vehicle conveying him at Amaladu in Gboko, and headed straight to Abuja.
