Benue’s most wanted criminal, Gana, killed hours after surrendering for amnesty

People of Benue state have now got a reason to sleep with their eyes closed

The state's "notorious and most wanted" criminal, Gana, has been killed by soldiers

Gana was killed hours after he surrendered to the state government during an amnesty event

The notorious militia leader in Benue state, Terwase Akwaza popularly known by his pseudonym Gana, has been finally killed by the operatives of the Nigerian military.

Gana met his waterloo and was subsequently annihilated on Tuesday, September 8, three years after Governor Samuel Ortom-led government placed a N10million bounty on information that could lead to the capture of the notorious militia gang leader.

Brigadier-General Maude Ali Gadzama, commander of the Four Special Forces Command of the Nigerian Army in Doma local government area of Nasarawa state, confirmed Gana's killing.

“At about 13:00 hours, there was an engagement with the convoy of Gana, a shoot out ensued and the bandit was killed, " Gadzama said.

Speaking on Channels TV, Governor Ortom further explained that the wanted criminal was killed during a crossfire with the Nigerian army.

Legit.ng earlier reported Gana surrendered himself to the state government on Tuesday, with the decision coming at the Katsina-Ala township stadium in the Benue North senatorial zone during an amnesty event.

He was said to have submitted some arms and ammunition to Benue amnesty programme established by Governor Ortom.

However, Ortom said soldiers snatched Gana from a government convoy escorting repentant militants in Gboko.

"I later succeeded in getting in touch with the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, and he confirmed to me that they (the military) were in an operation and that he will brief me later.

"I believe that the military will protest them because the military knew what we were doing. Even in the military, when someone surrenders during the war, he is protected,” Ortom said.

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Governor Ortom cried out over the rising crime rate and crisis going on in different parts of the state.

The governor who decried the situation while swearing in new council chairmen at the Government House in Makurdi on Monday, June 22, lamented that the negative developments had direct serious effects on peace without which development cannot thrive in the state.