One of the gang members of Terwase Akwaza, more popularly known as Gana, is opening up about how the late warlord got his power from burying his 12-ye
One of the gang members of Terwase Akwaza, more popularly known as Gana, is opening up about how the late warlord got his power from burying his 12-year-old daughter, 11 years ago in his village.
Gana who was Benue’s most wanted criminal was killed by the Nigerian military last week on his way to surrender to the state government. His death prompted top Benue State officials to criticize the military, describing the act as an extrajudicial killing.
The late Gana was known as a terror kingpin in his territory and many people had questioned how he commanded such level of authority.
Aondehemba, also known as Major, also revealed that the gang members warned their late leader not to trust the peace offering that eventually led to his death. Major noted that Gana, in his lifetime, trained over 200 gun-carrying members in Benue North East and Taraba State.
“It is a battalion. We are many and have a very strong network. Gana was a leader that cared so much about us. On that very day, he assembled us in the morning in the bush and addressed us. He directed us on what to do if he did not return alive. He told us that if his coming out was a setup, the battle should continue, but if it was with genuine intention, he would want us to lay down our arms.”
Major also stated that Gana’s resolve to tow the path of peace and eschew violence was out of respect for Senator Gabriel Suswan and the Bishop of Gboko, William Aveyam.
“I can tell you that Gana accepted Christ before his death. He had planned to be baptised by the Bishop after the amnesty. He had even discussed wedding one of his wives in the church. He was actually tired of what he was doing,” Major said.
Explaining how powerful Gana was and why he couldn’t possibly disappear before his death like some of them did, Major said:
“I was among the five gang members that disappeared in the convoy when the army stopped us in Gboko. Our vehicle was behind the official car of the local government chairman that was conveying Gana to Makurdi.
“Gana could not disappear because he had already handed over his power to the second commander before embarking on that ill-fated journey to Makurdi. His intention was to come back from Makurdi and make sure that peace returned permanently in Sankera (Logo, Ukum, Katsina-Ala LGAs), and Suswam had assured him of full support. He had told us that one of the things he intended to do in Makurdi was to plead with Governor Ortom to forgive him and reassure him of peace in Benue.”
He added that Gana had supernatural powers derived from burying his 12-year-old daughter alive 11 years ago in his village in Gbitse.
“That was why he was very powerful. And those powers are still intact because he gave them to someone very close to him. The military got Gana easily because he came out of the forest. Gana was in his village in Gbitse when he was declared wanted some years back, and each time the military went there to arrest him they were unable to identify him. Now Gana is no more but his spirit is still very much alive. He gave us a directive on what to do in case he died.”
TheNation
