By Matthew Ajai-Kume
The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has appealed to the Military Authority especially the Headquarters of the 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa State to release the repentant criminal suspects arrested along with the Late Terwase Akwaza Alias Gana.
Speaking with journalists Friday after a meeting of the Security Council , Governor Samuel Ortom said the arrested repentant criminals should be given a chance to complete the amnesty process.
“The Security Council in some of its resolution appealed to the Military Authorities to release the repentant Criminals in their custody to enable them receive the amnesty programme of the state and be integrated to the society for them to add value to the development of the state ” he stated.
Governor Ortom expressed the shock of the Security Council on the scenario that led to the killing of Mr Terwase Akwaza Alia Gana by the Military while he pleaded with the people of the state and Sankera axis in particular not to join issues with the Military but remain calm and peaceful as the Council is working assiduously to ascertain what actually happened.
He explained that, the Security Council also resolved that, the amnesty programme will be extended to other part of the state and called on the Criminals to embrace the amnesty programme and be integrated to the society for their total well-being.
“The youths whom we granted amnesty will be given a new orientation and the state government would train them in skills acquisition to enable them carter for their lives and that of the family ” he noted.
The Governor further stated that the State Government would continue to interface with the Security agencies in order to beef up security in the Sankera , within the state and its borders to curtail any security breach and leakages.
He applauded stakeholders in the Sankera axis for their understanding since the killing of Late Akwaza and appealed to them to maintain the peaceful atmosphere as well as encourage the youths of the area to give peace a chance for greater development of the area and Benue State in particular.
He constituted a committee headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Elder Jerome Tor-Shimber, Security Adviser, Retired Col. Hembah and Special Adviser on Special Duties ,Mr Joseph Udaudu to partner the Chairmen of Local Government Areas in the state and especially that of Katsina Ala, Ukum and Logo to ensure that the second amnesty programme succeed by ensuring that criminal elements who want to embrace the amnesty programme are given the opportunity to do so.#
Gana “Ortom begs Army to release repentant criminal”
