Samuel Ortom, Benue governor, says Terwase Akwaza, better known as Gana, who is alleged to be the most wanted  criminal in the state, was intercepted by the army on his way to surrender.

 

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday after receiving some repentant criminals in the state, Ortom said he got a call that Gana was arrested in Gboko and immediately reached out to the army authorities.

 

The governor wondered why the army would arrest Gana  becauset security agencies are aware of the state government’s amnesty programme.

 

“It was around 4pm when we were waiting for the repentant militias that I received a call that Gana and others have  beena close to Yandev roundabout in Gboko by, soldiers” he said.

 

“Many of the repentant militias had weapons in which they  wereb to surrender to us. The process of the amnesty programme was known to the security operatives, so I don’t know why they have to be arrested.

 

“Immediately I got the information, I contacted the  commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, General Yekini, who told me that they were carrying out an operation and promised to get back to me, so I am still waiting for him.” But the governor’s account runs contrary to that of the. army

 

Moundhey Ali, commander of ‘4 special forces command’, had told journalists that Gana was killed along Gbese- Makurdi road after an exchange of gunfire.

“At about 13:00 hours, there was an engagement with the convoy of Gana, a shoot-out ensued and the bandit was killed,” Ali told reporters.

 

Ex-Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia has insisted that a Northern Governor is Boko Haram’s leader.

Mailafia stated this on Wednesday, while speaking with journalists shortly after he was released by the Departmentof State Services (DSS).

 

The DSS detained him for questioning for over six hours in their Jos, Plateau State office. However, Mailafia made it clear he did not need to retract the statement he made, during a recent interview. Ex-Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia has insisted that a Northern Governor is Boko Haram’s leader.

Mailafia stated this on Wednesday, while speaking with journalists shortly after he was released by the Department of State Services (DSS). The DSS detained him for questioning for over six hours in their Jos, Plateau State office.

 

However, Mailafia made it clear he did not need to retract the statement he made, during a recent interview. Mailafia, who arrived at the office the DSS office around 12.30pm along with his lawyers, did not leave until 6.40pm On his claims, he said, “Yes, all of those words were made by me. If the whole of the 55 minutes was played out, the context of what I said would have become clearer.

 

“This is not the time to disown what I said. Yes, I was privy to some very sensitive information which all statesmen are entitled to have by virtue of our public roles.

 

“I know that I should have corroborated some of the information I received, but perhaps some of it was uncorroborated. I was in no position to follow them to the camp to corroborate what was going on.”

 

Mailafia added that “I must never give up on Nigeria, if need be, I will die for Nigeria.”

 

Meanwhile, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has called for an investigation into the claims.