As many people continue to critisize and
condemn the attack on Gbisihi community the
special adviser to governor Ortom on ICT and
Social Media, Mr Tahav Agerzua, take us down
memory lane on how Benue Amnesty program
started and the recent attack on Gbishi
community. Read it below..
THE STICK ASPECT OF ORTOM’S
AMNESTY PROGRAM
“We call on all unlawfully armed
persons who have been terrorizing
innocent citizens to immediately
surrender their arms ... or we shall
pursue them to their holes.”
Governor Ortom, May 29th, 2015.
Right from the beginning, Governor
Samuel Ortom made it clear that his
amnesty program which was a response
to the dire insecurity situation which he
met on ground on assumption of office
comprised two aspects: the carrot and
the stick.
He pleaded with those in possession of
arms illegally to turn them in and even
paid stipends to those who did so.
The carrot approach which was to last
initially for three months was extended
for another month following the plea by
Mr. Terwase Akwaza, alias Ghana when
he turned himself in on the last day of
the third month.
On that day he surrendered 84 assorted
weapons and pledged to convince more
gangsters to embrace the program.
Subsequently several others also followed
suit.
At the end of the day over 600 assorted
weapons and thousands of ammunition
were received even as 900 youths
embraced the amnesty program.
A retreat was organized for the
beneficiaries who were placed on a
stipend for three months and their
chosen vocations identified.
The process of placement also
commenced with several beneficiaries
who were recruited into the army
already passing out from the Nigerian
Military School, Zaria.
The prime beneficiary, Mr. Terwase
Akwaza, who emerged as leader of the
beneficiaries on account of his previous
role in the underworld, applied as agent
of the Benue State Internal Revenue
Service on produce and he was engaged
in the understanding that he would
provide canopy for the others.
The state government also engaged with
national and international organizations
to fashion out a more comprehensive
program for those involved.
The beneficiaries came mostly from the
Benue North East senatorial district that
had witnessed a lot of criminal activities
with attendant loss of lives.
However, at every point Governor Ortom
made it clear to beneficiaries that if they
went back to their old ways the second
aspect, the stick approach, would be
applied on them as well as those who
had not embraced the program.
Mr. Akwaza, alias Ghana, assured that he
would never return to crime as he
cherished the freedom offered to him.
While Governor Ortom was campaigning
Ghana sent messages soliciting freedom
if he was elected.
After the amnesty program he organized
a thanksgiving service in Gbishe during
which he knelt down publicly and
begged for forgiveness from all those he
offended and pledged never to return to
his vomit.
Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop
Peter Adoboh, officiated at the mass
which was attended by dignitaries across
the state including Governor Ortom.
The state also experienced relative peace
as a result of the amnesty program.
After a while however, the crime wave
started to surge especially kidnappings
and armed robbery.
The late Denen Igbana the Governor’s
Senior Special Assistant on Special
Security led operations to stem the tide
with the assistance of the late Pastor, one
of the leaders of the beneficiaries of the
amnesty program.
The network of the duo successfully
unraveled 13 kidnap cases and rescued
the victims without payment of ransom.
Suddenly Pastor was shot and killed in
broad daylight.
Security reports indicated that he was
assassinated for his role in exposing the
kidnap syndicate traced to be loyal to
Ghana who had reportedly vowed that he
would eliminate both he and the late
Igbana.
The reports were vindicated when the
security aide was gunned down in his
house in the night.
The deceased made a dying declaration
that Ghana was one of his killers.
The police arrested several suspects
including the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Special Duties and also
invited Mr. Akwaza for questioning.
When he disclosed that he had been
invited Governor Ortom advised him to
report to the police and subject himself
to investigation adding that if he did not
commit the crime he would be
exonerated.
Mr. Akwaza declined the police
invitation.
Meanwhile kidnappings, armed robbery,
cattle rustling, and assassinations were
on the rise many traced to him as he
retired to his hideout and stronghold in
Gbishe but continued to spread his
tentacles of crime and recruitment
across the state as indicated by security
reports.
The kidnappers caught and burnt in
Gboko as well as the suspected robber
gunned down in Ikpayongo were
reported to be members of his gang who
were on criminal assignments for him.
In both cases several automatic weapons
as well as hundreds of ammunition were
recovered.
It was in these circumstances that the
State Security Council decided that
Ghana be tracked and arrested.
Before this happened Governor Ortom
had called leaders of the Gbishe
community and informed them that if
their son failed to report to the police
the security agencies would go after him.
He declared war on the state and was
running a parallel underground
government.
The Acting Secretary to the State
Government, Dr. Bem Melladu explained
the operation in Gbishe.
“It has become necessary to inform the
general public that a joint Security
agencies' operations commenced around
Gbishe and its environs today as they
search for Mr Terwase Akwaza, alias
Ghana in connection with various
criminal activities.
The action followed the refusal of Mr
Akwaza to report to the police to answer
charges of murder, kidnappings, and
armed robbery.
The operation was approved by the State
Security Council.
Security reports have linked Mr. Akwaza
with the assassination of Mr Denen
Igbana, Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor on Special Security, five
Civilian Joint Task Force members in
Ukum local government area and several
killings as well as the kidnap of the
Dangote Cement Company Indian
workers.
Mr Akwaza, alias Ghana, had shunned
invitations by the police hence the
operations became imperative.
Governor Samuel Ortom had also
informed leaders of the Gbishe
community that, if Mr Akwaza failed to
report to the police he would be fished
out.
The operation is part of the second phase
of the Amnesty programme which is the
stick approach after the carrot strategy
had expired.
People are advised not to give cover to
Mr Akwaza and his gang members but to
rather give information about his
whereabouts by text or calls to the
security agencies through these numbers
08066006475, 07067374913, and
08036363531.”
The Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur
Burutai defended the military action in
Gbishe.
General Burutai, who was represented by
the Army Chief of Policy and Planning,
Lincoln Ogunewe, stated that the
operation was aimed at fishing out a
beneficiary of the Benue State Amnesty
Programme, Akwaza, and to ensure
internal security in the country.
People have asked why a similar
operation had not been organized
against the Fulani invaders.
The nomadic life of the attackers might
be the challenge of locating them in one
place but since this kind of operation has
taken place it is an indication that a
similar operation could be carried out
against the incessant attackers.
With the development those who used to
look at Governor Ortom as a toothless
bulldog who barked without barking will
have to think twice.
condemn the attack on Gbisihi community the
special adviser to governor Ortom on ICT and
Social Media, Mr Tahav Agerzua, take us down
memory lane on how Benue Amnesty program
started and the recent attack on Gbishi
community. Read it below..
THE STICK ASPECT OF ORTOM’S
AMNESTY PROGRAM
“We call on all unlawfully armed
persons who have been terrorizing
innocent citizens to immediately
surrender their arms ... or we shall
pursue them to their holes.”
Governor Ortom, May 29th, 2015.
Right from the beginning, Governor
Samuel Ortom made it clear that his
amnesty program which was a response
to the dire insecurity situation which he
met on ground on assumption of office
comprised two aspects: the carrot and
the stick.
He pleaded with those in possession of
arms illegally to turn them in and even
paid stipends to those who did so.
The carrot approach which was to last
initially for three months was extended
for another month following the plea by
Mr. Terwase Akwaza, alias Ghana when
he turned himself in on the last day of
the third month.
On that day he surrendered 84 assorted
weapons and pledged to convince more
gangsters to embrace the program.
Subsequently several others also followed
suit.
At the end of the day over 600 assorted
weapons and thousands of ammunition
were received even as 900 youths
embraced the amnesty program.
A retreat was organized for the
beneficiaries who were placed on a
stipend for three months and their
chosen vocations identified.
The process of placement also
commenced with several beneficiaries
who were recruited into the army
already passing out from the Nigerian
Military School, Zaria.
The prime beneficiary, Mr. Terwase
Akwaza, who emerged as leader of the
beneficiaries on account of his previous
role in the underworld, applied as agent
of the Benue State Internal Revenue
Service on produce and he was engaged
in the understanding that he would
provide canopy for the others.
The state government also engaged with
national and international organizations
to fashion out a more comprehensive
program for those involved.
The beneficiaries came mostly from the
Benue North East senatorial district that
had witnessed a lot of criminal activities
with attendant loss of lives.
However, at every point Governor Ortom
made it clear to beneficiaries that if they
went back to their old ways the second
aspect, the stick approach, would be
applied on them as well as those who
had not embraced the program.
Mr. Akwaza, alias Ghana, assured that he
would never return to crime as he
cherished the freedom offered to him.
While Governor Ortom was campaigning
Ghana sent messages soliciting freedom
if he was elected.
After the amnesty program he organized
a thanksgiving service in Gbishe during
which he knelt down publicly and
begged for forgiveness from all those he
offended and pledged never to return to
his vomit.
Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop
Peter Adoboh, officiated at the mass
which was attended by dignitaries across
the state including Governor Ortom.
The state also experienced relative peace
as a result of the amnesty program.
After a while however, the crime wave
started to surge especially kidnappings
and armed robbery.
The late Denen Igbana the Governor’s
Senior Special Assistant on Special
Security led operations to stem the tide
with the assistance of the late Pastor, one
of the leaders of the beneficiaries of the
amnesty program.
The network of the duo successfully
unraveled 13 kidnap cases and rescued
the victims without payment of ransom.
Suddenly Pastor was shot and killed in
broad daylight.
Security reports indicated that he was
assassinated for his role in exposing the
kidnap syndicate traced to be loyal to
Ghana who had reportedly vowed that he
would eliminate both he and the late
Igbana.
The reports were vindicated when the
security aide was gunned down in his
house in the night.
The deceased made a dying declaration
that Ghana was one of his killers.
The police arrested several suspects
including the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Special Duties and also
invited Mr. Akwaza for questioning.
When he disclosed that he had been
invited Governor Ortom advised him to
report to the police and subject himself
to investigation adding that if he did not
commit the crime he would be
exonerated.
Mr. Akwaza declined the police
invitation.
Meanwhile kidnappings, armed robbery,
cattle rustling, and assassinations were
on the rise many traced to him as he
retired to his hideout and stronghold in
Gbishe but continued to spread his
tentacles of crime and recruitment
across the state as indicated by security
reports.
The kidnappers caught and burnt in
Gboko as well as the suspected robber
gunned down in Ikpayongo were
reported to be members of his gang who
were on criminal assignments for him.
In both cases several automatic weapons
as well as hundreds of ammunition were
recovered.
It was in these circumstances that the
State Security Council decided that
Ghana be tracked and arrested.
Before this happened Governor Ortom
had called leaders of the Gbishe
community and informed them that if
their son failed to report to the police
the security agencies would go after him.
He declared war on the state and was
running a parallel underground
government.
The Acting Secretary to the State
Government, Dr. Bem Melladu explained
the operation in Gbishe.
“It has become necessary to inform the
general public that a joint Security
agencies' operations commenced around
Gbishe and its environs today as they
search for Mr Terwase Akwaza, alias
Ghana in connection with various
criminal activities.
The action followed the refusal of Mr
Akwaza to report to the police to answer
charges of murder, kidnappings, and
armed robbery.
The operation was approved by the State
Security Council.
Security reports have linked Mr. Akwaza
with the assassination of Mr Denen
Igbana, Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor on Special Security, five
Civilian Joint Task Force members in
Ukum local government area and several
killings as well as the kidnap of the
Dangote Cement Company Indian
workers.
Mr Akwaza, alias Ghana, had shunned
invitations by the police hence the
operations became imperative.
Governor Samuel Ortom had also
informed leaders of the Gbishe
community that, if Mr Akwaza failed to
report to the police he would be fished
out.
The operation is part of the second phase
of the Amnesty programme which is the
stick approach after the carrot strategy
had expired.
People are advised not to give cover to
Mr Akwaza and his gang members but to
rather give information about his
whereabouts by text or calls to the
security agencies through these numbers
08066006475, 07067374913, and
08036363531.”
The Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur
Burutai defended the military action in
Gbishe.
General Burutai, who was represented by
the Army Chief of Policy and Planning,
Lincoln Ogunewe, stated that the
operation was aimed at fishing out a
beneficiary of the Benue State Amnesty
Programme, Akwaza, and to ensure
internal security in the country.
People have asked why a similar
operation had not been organized
against the Fulani invaders.
The nomadic life of the attackers might
be the challenge of locating them in one
place but since this kind of operation has
taken place it is an indication that a
similar operation could be carried out
against the incessant attackers.
With the development those who used to
look at Governor Ortom as a toothless
bulldog who barked without barking will
have to think twice.
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