Killing Gana, the monstrous being: the beginning or the end of criminality in the middle belt?

Killing Gana, the monstrous being: the beginning or the end of criminality in the middle belt? 

By Tok Morgan

When the news of the repentance of Terwase Akwaza aka Gana at a Stadium after months of hiding broke out, it came with some much respite for the residents of Benue, Taraba and the rest of the states that make up the middle belt. It gave hope that life was going to be without fear for farmers and market men and women who have been living in fear of the unknown from a man who had a bounty over him.

For those on the other side of life, this news is cheering as it presents an opportunity to scoop information about those responsible for the many attacks on innocent farming communities, kidnappings and the different forms of insecurity that characterised the ever green middle belt. Just when this moods were piling up the news of his execution reportedly on his way to see the Governor by soldiers filtered in and this generated mixed reactions from Nigerians especially at a time that repentant Boko Haram Members are benefitting from a Federal Government Amnesty programme were they are being rehabilitated and empowered to be reintegrated into the society. 

Though this isn't the first repentance to be seen from Gana, every critical mind will wonder if it was genuine or as fake as the case was with the previous one just to target another victim, so like the repentant Boko Haram why not Gana? Why the summary execution? While the military said he was killed in a gun battle, why is his body the only one on pictures? Is it a cover up for the sponsors? This and many other probing questions came flying.

I am not an advocate of amnesty criminals especially those that have grievously dealt with innocent people, they should face the wrath of the law as stipulated in the constitution. Killing Gana may bring to an end the crises bedeviling Benue and the Middle Belt as those Fulani's who took him to Chad, Niger, etc and offered to pay him handsomely to capture Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba for them or Government officials he mentioned will not find him to do so, on the order hand killing Gana could be a repeat of what gave birth to Boko Haram, that is the killing of their leader Mohammed Yusuf after he was arrested. 

If no information was gotten from him as to the number of loyalist he has gathered so far and those sponsoring his activities then the end may not have come and so at this point the security agencies must double up to face a double monster ie Boko Haram and Gana's followers as innocent Nigerians may end up paying for this act many have discribed to be suspicious.

Once again I ask, will Killing Gana Mark and End to the killings in the middle belt or Aggravate it? Only time shall tell.

Tok Morgan (BigBlunt)

Broadcast Journalist