Governor Samuel Ortom

By Richard Elesho

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has assured the people of the state that security agencies will soon arrest a wanted criminal group locally called Terwase Akwaza, alias ‘Gana’.

According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary CPS to the Governor, Mr. Traverse Akase, Governor Ortom gave the assurance at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi during the display of weapons recovered from members of the criminal group in Gbishe, Katsina-Ala local government area of the state, and assured that the wanted gang leader would not know peace until he is apprehended by the police.

The Governor said security agencies would continue to use the stick approach of the amnesty programme to fish out criminals, stressing that Akwaza has no hiding place.

Governor Ortom warned anyone shielding the suspect to stop doing so as security agents would not spare such a person, revealing that the power bike used by Akwaza in his criminal exploits within Katsina-Ala and other parts of the state has been recovered by security agencies.

“We have recovered the power bike and the explosives that can destroy a whole bridge, we are closing down on him”, the Governor was quoted as saying..

He commended the army, Civil Defence, the SSS and other security agencies for their tireless efforts at ensuring peace and orderliness in the State.

Some of the items recovered included a carton of explosives, two rocket cases, two magazines, one den gun, ten handsets, two sacks of weeds believed to be Indian hemp, several rounds of ammunition, military uniform and helmet.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Colonel Edwin Jando, had explained that the items were recovered by eagle-eyed security agents
and assured that they would not relent until Terwase Akwaza is arrested.