Murder of Denen Igbana | I spoke to Terwase Akwaza (Ghana) to report to Police.-Gov Ortom.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, today disclosed that he has told Mr Terwase Akwaza, also known as Ghana, a gang leader who was granted amnesty to report to the police to answer murder charges preferred against him.

The Governor made the disclosure while addressing the NKST Synod in Mkar, near Gboko.

He said he spoke to Mr Akwaza to report to the police in connection with the murder of the late Denen Igbana, Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Security who made a dying declaration that Ghana was among his killers.
According to him, the state security council had resolved that if the accused did not voluntarily report to the police, the security agencies would fish him out.

He stated that criminals conspired and eliminated his aide who contributed immensely to the success of the amnesty programme and in resolving 13 kidnapping cases so that they would have no hindrance anymore, stating however, that his administration would not surrender the State to them.

Governor Ortom said he has invited leaders from Mbayongo community to communicate the decision to them and advise that they urge their son to comply with his directive.

He said he told Mr. Akwaza  that if he reported and was even detained but did not commit the crime he would eventually be exonerated.
The Governor stressed that the period of amnesty was over and that there was no longer dialogue with criminals, pointing out that the state government had mobilized the security agencies to collaborate with the Civilian Joint Task Force and the Vigilante Group to fight the rising crime wave in the state.

He gave an account of his one year stewardship saying he recorded milestones including the graduation of three sets of medical doctors from the Benue State University, resumption of work on abandoned roads across the state and award of contract for new ones.

Governor Ortom stated that work was ongoing on Sustainable Development Goals projects in various sectors in 33 communities while water supply had resumed in Otobi and Katsina-Ala even as the Benue Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, BERWASSA, was executing 116 water projects in four local governments.
He gave assurance that work would soon start on the facelift of over 700 primary schools across the state with the N7.6 billion set aside for the purpose.

Earlier, Synod President,  Dr Ayohol Ate, who had commended the Governor for his policies in several sectors and appointment of church members into government positions, listed the massive displacement of thousands of church members by herdsmen, resurging crime wave, revocation of church land and non payment of salaries as major challenges which should be addressed.

Signed :
Tahav Agerzua, Special Adviser,
Media and ICT.