A top member of the gang led by Terwase Akwaza aka Gana, has made some explosive revelations about the deceased.
In an interview with The Nation, the militant who gave his aliases as ‘Major and Aondehemba’, vowed that the battle will continue.
He revealed that Gana, killed by the Nigerian Army last week, had an inkling of his death and handed over all his powers to his deputy.
Major disclosed that Gana trained over 200 fighters spread across Benue North East and some parts of Taraba State.
“It is a battalion. We are many and have a very strong network. Gana was a leader that cared so much about us.
“On that very day, he assembled us in the morning in the bush and addressed us. He directed us on what to do if he did not return alive.
“He told us that if his coming out was a setup, the battle should continue, but if it was with genuine intention, he would want us to lay down our arms.”
Aondehemba recalled that Bishop Aveyam was always calling Gana on the phone, preaching the gospel to him to change his ways and embrace peace.
He added: “I can tell you that Gana accepted Christ before his death. He had planned to be baptized by the Bishop after the amnesty. He had even discussed wedding one of his wives in the church. He was actually tired of what he was doing.
“I was among the five gang members that disappeared in the convoy when the army stopped us in Gboko. Our vehicle was behind the official car of the local government chairman that was conveying Gana to Makurdi.
“Gana could not disappear because he had already handed over his power to the second commander before embarking on that ill-fated journey to Makurdi.
“His intention was to come back from Makurdi and make sure that peace returned permanently in Sankera (Logo, Ukum, Katsina Ala LGAs), and Suswam had assured him of full support.
“He had told us that one of the things he intended to do in Makurdi was to plead with Governor Ortom to forgive him and reassure him of peace in Benue.”
He claimed that Gana had super natural powers derived from burying his 12-year-old daughter alive 11 years ago in his Gbitse village.
“That was why he was very powerful. And those powers are still intact, because he gave them to someone very close to him.
“The military got Gana easily because he came out of the forest.
“Gana was in his village in Gbitse when he was declared wanted some years back, and each time the military went there to arrest him they were unable to identify him.
“Now Gana is no more but his spirit is still very much alive. He gave us a directive on what to do in case he died.
“At the moment, we are mourning him.”
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom who was waiting in Makurdi for a planned historic meeting with Gana only to be informed of his death, said yesterday that he would not take issues with the military on the circumstances of the terrorist’s death.
The military had claimed that Gana was shot dead during an exchange of gun fire with soldiers while government officials in the same convoy with the deceased said he was dragged out of the car that was taking him to Makurdi, bundled into a security vehicle and later shot.
Speaking to reporters after an expanded meeting of the state Security Council, Ortom said his administration had decided to move ahead with the amnesty programme as Gana is dead and will not come back to life.