Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has revealed the real killers of his Special Assistant on Security, Mr Denen Igbana.
Late Mr Igbana was assassinated by unknown gunmen at his residence in Tionsha area of Makurdi, the state capital about three months ago.
The Governor who was speaking on Radio Nigeria Harvest FM station, yesterday said wanted former militia leader, Terwase Akwaza also known as Ghana along with other kidnappers conspired to eliminate his security aide who was a threat to their business.
He said despite granting amnesty to the former militia leader, he still engaged in kidnapping, killing and cow rustling, and also went ahead to assassinate his aide.
“Behind it (the amnesty), he (Ghana) was still doing kidnappings and killings and armed robbery and rustling cattle again. Things came to limelight when my late Senior Special Assistant on Special Security apprehended him on some of the kidnappings that were taking place in the state and he felt threatened and then decided to assassinate him.
“This was done and it was very clear. And when Denen was dying, his dying confession was that it was Gana that killed him and during our tenure, the Senior Special Assistant did an impressive thing because he succeeded in rescuing more than 13 kidnap victims without paying a ransom; 13; he did; very active. And so they were not happy that having that kind of person, they will not have a place to hide.”
“The late Denen being an ex-police officer, who was involved in anti-robbery and so on. He knew most of the criminals who were within the state and he was very active and they assassinated him. He identified him as being culpable for his assassination before he died.” Ortom said.
The Governor restated his resolve not to interfere with the investigation drawing an example from his former Special Adviser on Special Duties, Arc Joe Kyaagba who was accused, arrested, arraigned and granted bail in connection with the murder.
“I’m not going to interfere, I want the police to do their independent investigation and whosoever is culpable should be sanctioned. That was why even when my Special Adviser on Special Duties was accused and arrested by police and arraigned; I never interfered, I allowed the process to continue until he got his bail. I did not interfere or do anything to stop his bail because I want the law to take its course.” He said.
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