Troops nabs weapons supplier of Benue wanted kingpin

Troops of Operations Whirl Stroke operating in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States have arrested 19 suspects in different parts of Benue and Nasarawa States for various offences bothering on armed banditry, kidnapping and weapons supply.

Parading the suspects at Tactical Air Command, Nigeria Air force, Makurdi on Saturday, the Force Commander of OPWS, Major General Adeyemi Yekini said that 13 of the suspects were arrested in Gboko and Katsina-Ala areas of Benue  State.

General Yekini specifically identified Dauda Atara and Andrew Imbwase aka Don Moji as major armourers and suppliers of weapons to Benue’s most-wanted kingpin, Terwase Akwaza (aka Gana).

Among those paraded were two kidnappers who were arrested at Umaisha in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Speaking with journalists after the parade, Yekini said that the troops had broken the weapon supply chain fueling criminalities in  Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.

The troops’ commander said that the suspect  (Don Moji) had led troops to the main armourer of Gana, adding that the armourer was arrested around the North Bank area of Makurdi.

Yekini who added hat the weapon supply ring extends to Plateau and Taraba States vowed that troops would soon apprehend all those involved

He explained that the 10 suspects arrested in  Gboko area were members of a kidnapping group under Shawa stressing that the group was responsible for the bulk of kidnapping and other violent crimes in and around Gboko.(Punch)