Soldiers of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) operating in Benue State have apprehended two suspects identified as loyalists of late militia kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as ‘Gana’ in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were said to have been arrested with weapons after they had reportedly launched an attack on villagers in Dyom settlement, near Senga community of Kastina-Ala LGA.
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Daily Trust reports that Kastina-Ala is one of the two LGAs in the Sankera axis of the state where the government recently ban the use of motorcycles and imposed a curfew to contain insecurity.
Locals alleged that the arrested men were part of the bandits dressed in military camouflage that attacked innocent villagers, but were promptly nabbed by troops of OPWS who also recovered weapons from them.
The Security Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (rtd), while briefing newsmen in Makurdi about the development on Sunday, noted that the timely intervention of the OPWS troops averted what would have been a major bloodbath in the community after the bandits stormed the village and started shooting sporadically and also burning down houses.
“These were armed men in military camouflage said to be loyalists of the late Gana.
“They stormed the area, shot and killed three persons and also burnt down houses in the community.
“Luckily while this was going on, information reached personnel of OPWS who stormed the area and apprehended two of the armed men and also recovered their weapons which included live ammunitions and an AK47 riffle including a locally made gun,” Hemba said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP, Catherine Anene, when contacted, however, told journalists that she was yet to receive details of the incident.
