Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Army said its soldiers have arrested one Mr. Tordue Gbe, a notorious native doctor, who specialises in providing spiritual cover for criminals and armed militia groups operating in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states.
The suspect, also said to an ally of Akwazar Terwase (alias Gana), who had been on the wanted list of security agencies since 2016, was arrested by Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Monday at his shrine at Tor-Dunga town, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The suspect was said to have been arrested alongside one Mr. Atoo Kuwe Francis, while one Mr. Tordue was shot dead during a struggle to disarm him by the soldiers.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani, Usman, who made this known in a statement, said the soldiers also recovered arms/ammunitions, charms and other dangerous weapons from the shrine which also serves as a hideout for the criminals.
Gen. Usman, in the statement said, “Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Nigerian Army, on Monday 29th January 2018, raided the shrine and suspected hideout of a notorious native Doctor, Mr. Tordue Gber (Tiv Swem), who act as spiritual adviser to the wanted armed criminal militias at Tor-Dunga town, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
“During the operation, the troops succeeded in arresting the occupant,
Gber (Tiv Swem), who is an ally of the wanted notorious criminal, Akwazar Terwase (alias Gana). It will be recalled that he was declared wanted by the security agencies and has been at large since 2016.
“Preliminary investigation shows that Mr. Tordue Gber (Tiv Swem) acts as spiritual counselor that provides Gana with “diabolical” powers and the shrine serves as hideout for wanted armed militia, meeting and planning point for operations and logistics base for the criminal armed militias that operate in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States.
“The native Doctor was arrested along with one of his accomplice, Mr. Atoo Kuwe Francis, while planning to carry out an attack and abduct one Mr. Zaya at Tse Bente village in the same LGA. However, Mr. Tordue was shot dead during the struggle to disarm him.
“The troops recovered a locally fabricated Pistol, 2 Baretta Pistols, 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 3 motorcycles and assorted charms. Other items include warm clothings for concealing weapons, 2 Mobile telephones and 3 power generators, amongst other items at the hideout,” the statement said.