A lawmaker representing Logo, Katsina Ala and Ukum Constituency in the House of Representatives, Richard Gbande, says the manner in which Benue’s most wanted militia leader, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, was killed by the military on Tuesday has raised some concerns.
Gbande said that what transpired amounted to a betrayal of trust on the side of the people of Sankera.
“The whole thing was like betrayal of trust because the whole traditional rulers in the area were the ones who mediated and made it possible for him (Gana) to embrace the amnesty,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, a community leader in the Logo Local government Area, Chief Anawah Joseph, condemned the military’s action, stating that Gana ought to have been treated as a repentant criminal, having accepted the state government’s amnesty.
According to him, “I don’t think this will bring peace but rather it will create more havoc. The issue of Gana is obtainable everywhere. What the military has done amounts to extra-judicial killing. It is very painful.
“I don’t think that will bring a lasting solution to the problem because what has happened amounts to the betrayal of trust and blackmail. There are so many factors because those people who mediated to bring out Gana from wherever he was are now being looked upon as people who betrayed him. So, it is terrible.”
National Publicity Secretary, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Gerald Katchy, on his part called for a probe of the incident.
Operation Commander, Major General Ali, said he would not react to the allegations on the killing of Gana.
“The military spokesman will answer you. Refer that question to army press man at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja,” he said.
But the Nigerian Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, did not respond to calls.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, also did not respond to request for comment on the alleged extrajudicial killing of the former fugitive.