Gana (outlaw)

Terwase, literally meaning 'God help,' was born a native of Gbishe, Kpav District, Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue State. He lost his parents at a very young age. His father was a powerful witch-doctor (herbalist) who is said to have bequeathed him with magical powers.[7] Some say his supernatural powers are derived from a shrine situated on top of a rock at the fringes of his village, Gbishe.[3] Others believe his powers are from a ritual of black magic in which he killed and buried his 12-year-old daughter.[8]

He began his life of crime between the ages of 10 and 12 stealing poultry products from his neighborhood, which he concealed inside the popular Nigerian Ghana Must Go bag. This earned him the nickname 'Gana' with the people of the locality. He grew famous for being a thief and began waylaying traders returning home on market days.[9]

Later, Gana joined a militia group that defended his community against the regular Fulani herdsmen and Jukun militia attacks. His courageous streaks were admired by his people and chiefs. Some believe that after his contributions to several victories, witch doctors from his village decided to fortify him with fetish powers that protected him against weapons and bullets and enabled him to disappear.[4]

He was a polygamist with more than 30 wives. According to his 33rd wife, Queen, any woman Gana touched ended up with him as a wife. In Queen's case, Gana touched her buttocks and she followed him and became his wife.[10]

While in hiding, Gana granted audience to Charles Eruka, a reporter with Channels TV, and also wrote a letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). In the Channels TV exclusive, he opened up on several of his activities in the underworld and accused top government functionaries of the Benue state government of having a hand in some crimes in the state.

In the interview, Gana revealed he was trained by the Fulani herdsmen in Niger, Sudan, and Cameroon and had on different occasions, alongside his gang fought as mercenaries for the Fulani herdsmen in their various conflicts in Nigeria. He alleged that the Fulani herdsmen planned to take over Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Taraba states and contacted him to handle the Taraba axis of their invasion. The deal was, however, not sealed as he turned down their offer of three hundred and fifty million naira despite dropping his price to seven hundred and fifty million naira from an initial one billion naira asking price. According to him, he declined because the money was not enough to 'settle' the military formations in Taraba state so as to carry out a successful operation.[13][14][15]

Gana denied having a hand in the murdered Senior Special Assistant on Special Security to Gov. Ortom, Denen Igbana. He accused the late Igbana of masterminding kidnappings in the state, citing two incidences: one in Gboko and another, the wife of a prominent Igbo businessman in Makurdi, popularly known as Officon. He alleged that the ransom of Officon’s wife was paid to the late Igbana, in which a dispute arose in the sharing formula between Denen and his boys. In both kidnappings, he contributed to efforts to apprehend the kidnappers who were later released by the police on the orders of Igbana.[13][16]

In a letter to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission dated 30 June 2016, Gana restated the allegations. He denied involvement in the murder of Denen Igbana and said he did not trust the police to be fair to him, which is why he went into hiding.[3]

He also accused the Special Adviser to the Benue State governor on Security, Edwin Jando, a retired colonel of the Nigerian Army of gunrunning and a source of his ammunition.[3]

Gana was ruthless and cruel. On his orders, communities were dislodged and razed. Any challenge to his supreme reign of the underworld was met with death. His network was sophisticated and well organized, making him evade security agents. He disrupted socio-economic activities in the Sankera area.[17]

He buried many alive and killed them at the slightest provocation. His 33rd wife, Queen, revealed that he killed the only daughter they had together and buried her in a shallow grave.[18]

His murder victims include the District Head of Mbayongo, Chief Aloo Alev, and his counterpart in Michihe, Chief Chiahemba Livinus Shom, in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area as well as Chief Awua Alabar, District Head of Kundav in Ukum Local Government Area, who was gunned down in the presence of his family.[17]

Gana was also responsible for the abduction and murder of the wife of Justice Tine Tur of the Court of Appeal, Esther Nguumbur Tur, and her companion, Mbalamen Kpensuen Aminde. The two were killed after the collection of ransom. The Hilux pickup in which they were abducted was also never found. The Appeal Court Justice did not survive the trauma of his wife's murder. He died shortly afterward.[19]

On 20 March 2017, Gana and his gang raided Zaki Biam and killed about 17 people.[5][20]

Gana built a clinic and science secondary school, named after him, in his village. He also gave out scholarships. Many beneficiaries of his scholarship are graduates.[7]

He also gave out motorbikes, cars, grinding machines and business capital to some people in his community.[4]