The Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP Benue North East), has condemned the killing of repentant Militia Leader in Benue State, Terwase Agwaza alias Gana, by men of the Nigerian Army in Gboko.

Suswam in a statement issued in Abuja, said Terwase’s killing after turning a new life from crime and criminality by soldiers was counter productive to peace already returning to the State .

According to him, in a situation where a criminal had surrendered for a new way of life after persuasion from elders and leaders in the community and later killed extra judicially by some State actors endangers the healing process as “this is the time to heal and not to kill “.
The statement reads : ” The events of September 8 2020 in my senatorial district where repentant criminals who had surrendered after extensive persuasions were singled out and killed extra judicially leaves a sour taste and has opened a gaping wound that requires all efforts to heal.

“It is no secret that my senatorial district has been traumatized and the people terrorized by activities of criminal gangs led by Mr. Terwase Agwaza alias Gana for many years.

” The consequences of this endless terrorism has been a steady decline of economic and social activities leaving a once prosperous people pauperized. Markets no longer attract traders, schools are closed and farmlands abandoned. Politics in the area has become war with an uncontrolled proliferation of dangerous weapons.

“No responsible leader will idly standby and watch his community become a theatre of war and a gangster’s paradise.

” It is with this solution mindset that traditional rulers, clergy men and elders of the area decided to utilize means of constructive engagement and dialogue to ensure that youths of the area do not become tools for the destruction of that society.

“The Benue State Government along with the security agencies have long desired for a return to normalcy, peace , prosperity and security of the area.

“We were all excited to see the dreaded Gana come out of hiding to the warm embrace of our Traditional Rulers, Clergy and political leaders at a public function at the Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina Ala.

“Our joy was multiplied when we saw him along with his militia surrender arms and publicity renounce a life of crime. Our revered King extracted a pledge from him never to turn his kingdom into a wasteland.

“Those present at this forum heaved a great sigh of relief with the thought that finally, a life full of uncertainty has come to and end.

“I was totally dumbfounded to learn that while Gana was on his way to Makurdi the state capital to present himself to the State Governor who was waiting, his long convoy that included political leaders, Traditional rulers, clergy men and security agencies was ambushed by allegedly armed soldiers and he isolated and taken away.

“In the midst of the confusion, pictures began to circulate on social media of the bullet ridden body of Gana with a rifle callously placed on his side.

“While I have been consistent in condemning the reign of terror he unleashed on his community, I cannot in good conscience as a lawyer of over three decades and a senior parliamentarian accept cold blooded extra judicial murder of an unarmed person as a solution to our security problems.

“The lessons of the Boko Haram escalation after a similar murder of its leader are still here with us.

“If this method is accepted as a norm in our country, there will be no need for laws and courts. We stand to benefit more by subjecting suspects to due process of the law. Information extracted from a living Gana would have helped security agents get to the root of activities of criminals.

“By this gestapo style execution, we have missed an opportunity to learn vital lessons about the structure of crime in the area.

“Even war criminals captured alive are entitled to certain rights. The claim that Gana was killed in a gunfight needs further explanation because those who accompanied him and who watched him being taken away, including his Local Government Chairman do not believe he was in possession of any arms.

“An independent judicial commission of inquiry will unravel facts of the matter to serve as lessons for the future”

ClassicMG:
In as much as I don't support extra judicial killing. I think the political leaders of benue are not been sincere with the whole thing.. he probably might be their machinery, going by how they are sympathetic to someone who according to them has killed so many people

johnlvis:
Flush the evil elements away !

Awol1:


Nigeria's Fulani army eliminated the only threat to their subduing of the Benue people.

What happened was a revenge killing. Because nothing justifies the murder of someone who has accepted amnesty and surrendered arms; which the governor said all security agents were made aware of.

But the Fulani should hear this, that a thousand "Gana" shall rise from that land.

Fools!

ClassicMG:
In as much as I don't support extra judicial killing. I think the political leaders of benue are not been sincere with the whole thing.. he probably might be their machinery, going by how they are sympathetic to someone who according to them has killed so many people

SpecialAdviser:
The killing is fishy. What is driving sentiments on this killing for those who care to know are below;

1) There is the possibility that the military killed him in retaliation for Fulani herdsmen killings
2) There are many Boko Haram who were granted amnesty and is enjoying freely, why treat him different?
3) Benue governor never supported his killings, in fact his contradictory account shows how political the killing is.
4) There are many Gana types in the fulani camp, non has been killed even as they never repented.
5) Bandits have even been granted amnesty in Katsina and are even walk freely.
6) Any bad guy in the future will hardly turn a new leaf in the face of this betrayal.
7) There is the possibility of his followers taking up arms.

In all this, I am one person that will never be happy to see a killer walk free in the guise of amnesty or similar thing.
But my anger is that when you treat a particular criminal as a VIP and treat the other as a nonentity, you will be calling for sympathy.
Nigeria is a country that deserve serious RESET. It is a shame some sits down and believe something good can happen in the future.
We are not united in any form and leaders do not care. People like Buhari has amplified nepotism to a higher level and only time shall tell what
it portends for us as a nation. We need a society where any killer should be killed without pampering a particular set of killers.

Awol1:


Nigeria's Fulani army eliminated the only threat to their subduing of the Benue people.

What happened was a revenge killing. Because nothing justifies the murder of someone who has accepted amnesty and surrendered arms; which the governor said all security agents were made aware of.

But the Fulani should hear this, that a thousand "Gana" shall rise from that land.

Fools!

Danwakae:




Be specific , has killed many Fulani herdsmen...



The guy is a notorious gangstar , but he has always been the one defending his people against killer herdsmen in Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba ...


He was not charged to court be killing , which is wrong.... Baguba and Gololo , from the Fulani part who has killed many non fulani people have not been arrested , let alone killed , the military have been having meeting with him...but same military is quick to kill Gana... Unfair justice. You give Fulani bandits in Sokoto, Katsina , Zamfara, Kaduna amnesty , but killed a notorious gangstar for killing Fulani bandits in banue , Taraba.

ClassicMG:
In as much as I don't support extra judicial killing. I think the political leaders of benue are not been sincere with the whole thing.. he probably might be their machinery, going by how they are sympathetic to someone who according to them has killed so many people

Onuoraijele:
I have lived in Benue state for over 20yrs now. That Gana has killed more Benue people. I don't know where you people are getting your informations from. That man is only after money and power. He has murdered alot of Agatu and Tiv people. Politicians in Benue state also use him to cause unrest. I don't know why you all seeing him as a Hero because they told you he is killing herdsmen

Mentcee:


Yoruboid

ClassicMG:
In as much as I don't support extra judicial killing. I think the political leaders of benue are not been sincere with the whole thing.. he probably might be their machinery, going by how they are sympathetic to someone who according to them has killed so many people

Onuoraijele:
I have lived in Benue state for over 20yrs now. That Gana has killed more Benue people. I don't know where you people are getting your informations from. That man is only after money and power. He has murdered alot of Agatu and Tiv people. Politicians in Benue state also use him to cause unrest. I don't know why you all seeing him as a Hero because they told you he is killing herdsmen

Danwakae:




Oh, they told you he killed people in Benue, Nasawara and Taraba states for tiv people ??


No doubt Gana is a well known criminal , apart from the number of victims he killed , he has killed more of Fulani herdsmen in last 4 years , this is a fact ... My relatives are still in Katsina Alla, I am from Taraba state , I am not a Tiv nor Idoma , but the truth need to be said.


The Army killed Gana because of the herdsmen he killed and not because of his notorious activities, if truly u have live in Benue for 20year, u should know that Gana is not the first notorious leader... Many are still in trial as I type , but why the rush to kill him ?

How many leader of the killer herdsmen responsible for the killings of Benue people have the army killed , or those arrested , how many have been charged to court ?, ....they have all been released.

Did the Army via the state govts granted amnesty to herdsmen in
Katsina
Zamfara
Sokoto... YES or NO ??... the bandits did not only engage the army in gun battle but also killed many soldiers and officers .

Did the Army granted amnesty to Boko haram

YES or NO ?... Did Boko haram not engage and killed nigeians on many occasions


Let us be fair to ourselves as Nigerians , I am from Lao , Taraba state, I am presently in Edo State , and if we must call ourselves nigerians , we must be fair to ourselves and speak the truth always ..

It would have been a different story if Gana is arrested and charged to court to face all the atrocities committed, but he was attacked and killed under the Benue State govt convoy...

There is a big problem. Ahead for Nigeria ...we saw same issue in Adamawa , after the Fulani attacked in a community, killed and damages properties , 5 youth who survived the attack wen for a reprisal, and they were arrested by the army , immediately charged to court and given life imprisonment...anybody that care about the unity of Nigeria must be ready to speak the truth at this time ..same thing the army did against the gbagys in Niger State for the fulanis...


Most africa countries have started cattle colony , but Nigeria doesn't want to move forward , the govt still want herders to graze on farmers crops ...that's wickedness... There are RUGA in Niger State , but yet , these herders will still go beyond to farm land... Because they have foreign herders backup and govt supports , there is danger ahead with this.

Onuoraijele:
Gana is working with fulani Herdsman. Why are you trying to rewrite history. This man have been killing Benue people for years where is he when Fulanis were killing Benue indigines on daily basis. You people should stop supporting evil

Onuoraijele:
why do our people like supporting evil. This man has killed thousands of Benue indigines than the anything. Where was he when fulani are killing thousands of people in Benue state. He even confess to have work with the Fulanis on attacking communities. Why are we defending this man