Benue governor, Samuel Ortom

The Benue Government on Monday revoked the amnesty granted to former coordinator of the state amnesty programme, Terwase Akwaza, on grounds of jettisoning the programme.

Dr Bem Meladu, the acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who addressed journalists at the end of the Security Council meeting, said the actions of Akwaza, showed that he had renounced the amnesty granted him.

He said the former amnesty chief had been linked with various crimes in the state, ranging from kidnapping, cattle rustling, assassinations and armed robbery.

The SSG also disclosed that the government had terminated its contract with Akwaza on revenue generation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Akwaza was awarded the contract for generating revenue from produce worth N7 million monthly and remitting same to the coffers of the state government.

NAN recalls that on Saturday, the government authorised the siege on Gbishe, the country home of Akwaza, in an attempt to arrest him.

In an earlier interview with NAN, the Benue Commissioner of Police, Mr Bashir Makama, said in spite of the siege on the village, the whereabouts of Akwaza remained unknown. NAN)