Benue ‘most wanted criminal’ was killed after ‘exchange of fire with troops’

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria says it has confirmed that Terwase Akwaza, better known as  Gana was killed during a shoot-out with security operatives.

Gana was killed along Makurdi-Gboko Road in Benue state on Tuesday.

In a statement, Edward Omaga, special rapporteur, said after a rigorous investigation, it was established that there was a gun battle between some loyalists to Gana and military personnel, which led to his death.

The statement below:

The recent killing of Terwase Akwaza (Gana), a notorious militia leader in Benue-Taraba axis by troops of the Nigerian Army has elicited widespread concern from the relevant stakeholders in Benue State, as well as across the country. There were allegations of human rights violations by the Nigerian Army in the sense that it was speculated that (Gana) was on his way to Makurdi, the Benue state capital to surrender arms and embrace the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Governor of Benue State.

The Governor of Benue State alleged that Gana was killed extra judiciously while he and 42 other repentant criminals were being conveyed to Makurdi, the state capital after they embraced the government’s amnesty programme.

The Nigerian Army has come out to state that Gana was killed during an exchange of gunfire at a roadblock mounted by the Army along Gbese-Gboko-Makurdi road with other members of his gang arrested and a large cache of arms recovered in the process.

This stance by the Nigerian Army has been questioned in several quarters as not reflecting the reality on the ground and indeed a case of extrajudicial killing, which is a gross violation of human rights.

The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria consequently launched an investigative probe of the incident to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of Terwase Akwaza (Gana). We relied on information provided by eyewitnesses and other locals in the area of the incident. We also aggregated the views of local vigilante groups operating within that area in the attempt to have an objective and balanced judgment. The opinions of some political actors were aggregated to form a background to the Amnesty programme initiated by the state government.

We were able to gather from credible sources that indeed there was a shoot-out between Gana and his boys in an entourage of about 20 vehicles driving dangerously along the Makurdi-Gboko road when they were accosted by troops from the 4 Special Forces Command in Nasarawa State who had mounted an spontaneous roadblock acting on Intel on the movement of a large convoy with sporadic shootings.

From the information gathered, it was indeed revealed that the late Gana who was seating on top of one of the vehicles opened fire at the military checkpoint and at that point there was pandemonium and sounds of gunshots rented the air. The convoy of Gana rammed into the military checkpoint after the soldiers took cover and returned gun exchanges with the group.

It was also gathered that the identity of Gana was not initially ascertained, not until he was neutralized that his identity was confirmed. By then, he had sustained gunshot wounds that ultimately led to his death.

From our preliminary findings, it was gathered that the state governor kept the movement of Gana and his gang from the Nigerian Army troops and this indeed caused a communication breach and the Nigerian Army acting in Intel of the movement of a large cache of arms along that axis mounted an improvised checkpoint.

It was also discovered that it was when news reached the governor that he made frantic efforts to reach the military commanders in the state, informing them that Gana was his guest and that he was on his way to Makurdi to surrender for the Amnesty Programme of the State government.

It was at this point the governor was informed that there had been a shoot-out with Gana and his team members and he sustained gunshot injuries. We gathered that the governor was furious and consequently called for a press conference alleging that the Nigerian Army killed Gana despite having knowledge of his movement from his base to Makurdi the state capital.