Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bashir Dabup Makama, has explained that a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, who was being detained, is an alleged accomplice of wanted gang leader, Mr Terwase Akwaza, alias Ghana.
The CP, who made the disclosure at a joint press briefing by members of the Benue State Security Council at the Police headquarters in Makurdi, stated that the lawyer was still under investigation and that as soon as it was concluded the report would be made known.
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Makama further disclosed that a joint operation of the security agencies in the state was carried out on Gbishe in search of Mr Akwaza in connection with armed robbery, kidnappings, assassinations and cattle rustling.
According to the CP, “What led to his arrest did not indicate that he is a lawyer, he was given a nickname as a collaborator or member of that gang. Until the NBA came out and further inquiries were conducted and we found out that he is said to be a lawyer.”
He later showed newsmen on an inspection of vehicles, weapons, ammunitions, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, money and charms said to have been recovered during the August 6, 2016 operation at Gbishe and subsequent others.
The Police Commissioner said N1, 000,000 paid as part of ransom on a victim, Mrs Nwobodo, was also recovered.
He solicited information from members of the public on the whereabouts of Akwaza and some of his gang members, pledging that the security agencies were determined to arrest them to face criminal charges.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Governor and vice chairman of the Security Council, Engr. Benson Abounu, attributed the upsurge of criminal activities in the state in recent times to the instigation of politicians who were jealous of the success of the carrot approach of the amnesty programme.
He expressed the determination of the state government to secure the state against criminals and invaders.
Several members of the state Security Council, including its Vice Chairman, Engr Abounu, Security Adviser, Col. Edwin Jande, retired, Director of the State Security Services, Mr Ademola Adebiyi , Acting Secretary to State Government, Dr. Bem Melladu, Commandimg officer of the 72 Special Forces, Lt. Col. Inuwa, State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Chief Odeh Ageh, as well as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Michael Gusa, were present at the
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