Anxiety as youths call for action against Gana’s militia resurgence in Benue

Benue State is on edge as a wave of killings and abductions by criminals, believed to be remnants of the late militia leader Terwase Akwaza, also known as Gana, has resurfaced.

The violent acts have escalated, prompting local youths, under the banner of the “Concerned Shitile Youth For Peace,” to send a strongly worded petition to police authorities.

The petition calls for urgent action to halt the deadly activities of Gana’s gang in the Sankera axis of the state, warning that if left unchecked, the situation could lead to more bloodshed, kidnappings, and the destruction of properties.

Allegations

The youths alleged in the petition dated, 15 July 2024 and made available to Crime Guard, that the recent gruesome killings, banditry and kidnapping within various communities in Sankera axis of Benue State, were being orchestrated by brothers of the late militia leader, Terwase Akwaza, Alias, Gana, who was killed on September 8, 2020, during an encounter with troops of Operation Ayem Akpatuma III, in Gboko area of the State.

They stated that 66 persons have been killed by various bandits using arms and ammunition belonging to Gana. According to the group; “six persons were killed by bandits loyal to late Gana and his brothers, at Gugur Mbahav Michihe Council-Ward of Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of the State, on June 16 2024, 18 others were also killed at Imande lkpa-Ukur Mbacher area of the State on July 19 2024, while 42 persons were gruesomely murdered at Ayati Community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on August 8, 2024.

SOS to security agencies

The residents are calling on the police high command, the Benue State Government and other security agencies to rein in these brothers who are also natives of Tse Akwaza, Mbayongo Council-Ward in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. The youths claimed that they inherited Gana’s arms, ammunition, his properties and his men, after he was killed four years ago.

It was gathered that security agents did not recover any arms and ammunition from Gana, after he was killed while attempt to accept the Benue State Government amnesty offered to bandits and kidnappers in 2020, as the arms and ammunition he presented during the exercise were no longer functional and they were not in use. It was disclosed further that his functional arms, which were mainly AK-47 rifles were hidden in his camps located deep inside the forests in Benue State and they were under the care of his younger brother.

Brothers form new gang

Police sources at the Force Headquarters Abuja, who spoke to Crime Guard on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that, intelligence reports surrounding the activities of Gana’s brothers, who took over his criminal enterprise indicate that he left over 80 pieces of AK-47 rifles in the care of his younger brother and also left his landed properties in the care of his elder brother. According to sources, after his demise, his brothers teamed up and formed a new criminal enterprise with Gana’s arms, ammunition and properties.

Guns for hire

The sources continued; “What they have been doing was to hire these guns out to criminal gangs who were under Gana’s control and loyal to him and they got returns from them after each operation. These boys weren’t killed when Gana was caught and killed and his arms are still in the care of his brothers who were always with Gana, in the bush during his reign. His boys are all criminals and they can’t survive without crime. So, they go to Konyo, hire the guns and use them for the nefarious activities after which they share the proceeds. This is how these people have kept Gana’s criminal enterprise running within Sankera axis in Benue State and on Shitile Land.”

Escalation of hostilities

A member of the ‘Concerned Shitile Youths For Peace’, while reacting to the development and explaining why the Inspector General of Police needs to rise up to his duties, said the death toll could rise further if decisive actions are not taken. He said; “Sadly 66 people have been killed within the last three months in communities around Sankera axis of our dear state and no thanks to these boys who are operating with Gana’s arms and ammunition. Everything they are doing is just for money. They are just igniting hostilities within our communities, taking people’s lives innocently and disrupting our economy and our way of life and we have a government that appears helpless. These hoodlums are not faceless. We know them and we know how these guns got into their hands and the source. They are all Gana’s guns, in the care of his younger brother and he and his other elder brother are letting the guns out to criminal elements within the state which they use in killing and maiming innocent inhabitants of our communities. This is too much and it must stop,” he pleaded.

IGP reacts

Meanwhile, Crime Guard learned that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reacted to the ugly development by ordering operatives of Intelligence Response Team, IRT, of the Force Intelligence Department, FID, to launch a manhunt for the suspects behind the terror in Benue State and recover all the arms and ammunition in their custody and ensure that they are brought to justice.