Troops Arrests Benue Monarch In Volatile Sankera Axis, Recover Fire Arms From Palace

The troops of joint military operation codenamed, Operation
Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Saturday, arrested the district head of Cha
(Mue Ter Cha) Chief Utambe Adzer in Ukum Local Government Area of
Benue state after they reportedly discovered arms and ammunition in
his palace.

It was gathered that the troops also discovered other weapons at
the palace of the district head of Lumbuv, Chief Teran Kwaghbo in
the same axis and attempted to arrest him but he evaded arrest.

A source from the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity
told our correspondent that OPWS troops acted on credible
information to uncover the weapons in the palaces of the two
chiefs.

“It was at about 10:30 pm on Friday when we saw some soldiers
moving towards the palace of Mue Ter Cha. Then the next moment, we
saw that the military has arrested the Chief. We also saw them
bringing out some arms which we heard were discovered in his
house.

“They equally razed down the round hut located in the palace
said to be where the weapons were kept.

“Just this morning (Saturday), the military troops were still
seen in Lumbuv District where they also attempted to arrest the
District Head whom they (Soldiers) believed harboured illegal arms.
However, information got to the chief and he escaped the
arrest.

“As I talk to you, nobody knows where the army took the
traditional rulers to,” he said.

A security source told Journalists that one Ak47 assault rifle,
one magazine, 20 round of 7.62mm ammunition, one locally made
mortar tube and one vehicle were recovered from chief Adzer.

Meanwhile, another source in Ukum who craved anonymity insisted
that the weapons found in the homes of the traditional rulers may
have been acquired for the purpose of security and protection of
their families and immediate neighborhood given the level of
insecurity in the area.

According to the source, “the weapons they claimed were found in
the homes of the Chiefs may have been acquired for self-protection.
We all know about the level of insecurity in Sankera axis and how
the Chiefs and their subjects in that axis are being killed by
bandits and armed loyalists of the late militia leader, Terwase
Akwaza alias ‘Gana’

“So the Chiefs probably keep the arms to protect themselves,
their families and immediate neighborhood from attacks from the
militia gangs. So they should not be demonized in the media until
proven otherwise,” he said.

Vanguard recalls that the armed bandits suspected to be
loyalists of the late ‘Gana’ have been terrorising the Sankera axis
of the state comprising Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs, killing
unsuspecting members of the public.

When contacted, Force Commander of OPWS, Brigadier General
Clement Apere declined to comment, saying he could not speak on an
ongoing operations. He however directed newsmen to the Information
Unit of the Defence Headquarters Abuja.

The troops of joint military operation codenamed, Operation
Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Saturday, arrested the district head of Cha
(Mue Ter Cha) Chief Utambe Adzer in Ukum Local Government Area of
Benue state after they reportedly discovered arms and ammunition in
his palace.

It was gathered that the troops also discovered other weapons at
the palace of the district head of Lumbuv, Chief Teran Kwaghbo in
the same axis and attempted to arrest him but he evaded arrest.

A source from the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity
told our correspondent that OPWS troops acted on credible
information to uncover the weapons in the palaces of the two
chiefs.

“It was at about 10:30 pm on Friday when we saw some soldiers
moving towards the palace of Mue Ter Cha. Then the next moment, we
saw that the military has arrested the Chief. We also saw them
bringing out some arms which we heard were discovered in his
house.

“They equally razed down the round hut located in the palace
said to be where the weapons were kept.

“Just this morning (Saturday), the military troops were still
seen in Lumbuv District where they also attempted to arrest the
District Head whom they (Soldiers) believed harboured illegal arms.
However, information got to the chief and he escaped the
arrest.

“As I talk to you, nobody knows where the army took the
traditional rulers to,” he said.

A security source told Journalists that one Ak47 assault rifle,
one magazine, 20 round of 7.62mm ammunition, one locally made
mortar tube and one vehicle were recovered from chief Adzer.

Meanwhile, another source in Ukum who craved anonymity insisted
that the weapons found in the homes of the traditional rulers may
have been acquired for the purpose of security and protection of
their families and immediate neighborhood given the level of
insecurity in the area.

According to the source, “the weapons they claimed were found in
the homes of the Chiefs may have been acquired for self-protection.
We all know about the level of insecurity in Sankera axis and how
the Chiefs and their subjects in that axis are being killed by
bandits and armed loyalists of the late militia leader, Terwase
Akwaza alias ‘Gana’

“So the Chiefs probably keep the arms to protect themselves,
their families and immediate neighborhood from attacks from the
militia gangs. So they should not be demonized in the media until
proven otherwise,” he said.

Vanguard recalls that the armed bandits suspected to be
loyalists of the late ‘Gana’ have been terrorising the Sankera axis
of the state comprising Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs, killing
unsuspecting members of the public.

When contacted, Force Commander of OPWS, Brigadier General
Clement Apere declined to comment, saying he could not speak on an
ongoing operations. He however directed newsmen to the Information
Unit of the Defence Headquarters Abuja.