Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The crimes that are being committed in the Sankera Axis of Benue state may not come to a permanent end if the people behind them are being protected from the long arms of the law.
The crimes will soon consume the entire area if the powerful godfathers to those behind them do not stop to use their influence on the Nigerian security agencies as well as the Judiciary.
In the year 2020, a state lawmaker representing the crisis-ridden axis, Mr. Jonathan Agbidye was accused of being the man behind all the crimes in Sankera. Some petitions were written against him. While the then Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume was able to block some of the petitions, just one of them scaled through and the police immediately arrested the accused (Agbidye).
The question on the lip of every Benue indigene then was why did Akume protect Agbidye who had been confirmed by the Nigerian police of being the man behind the criminal conspiracy, robbery, rape and abduction for ransom in Sankera. The answer isn’t far-fetched. Jonathan is almost the strongest political ally of the former Benue governor.
The police arrested Agbidye and he was immediately investigated and arraigned with one Denen Zuamo of Katsina Ala for crimes like rape, abduction for ransom, killings, stealing and militia activities.
During the hearing, the Police Prosecuting Counsel, Mr. Fidelis Ogbobe told the court that on May 22, 2018, a Toyota Hilux van with registration number SWA-215-FM and other valuables belonging to Apin Public Health Initiatives was snatched at gunpoint along with Katsina/Ala – Tordonga road in Katsina/Ala Local Government Area of Benue State to an unknown destination.
According to him, “during Police investigation, Mr. Agbidye and Zuamo of Katsina/Ala township were arrested with the said vehicle which had been re-registered with the number MKD-992-AD in Makurdi.”
Ogbobe said police investigation further reveals that Messr. Agbidye, Zuamo, and others now at large who allegedly belong to a gang of armed robbers and terrorists headed by one wanted kingpin, Terwase Akwaza alias ‘Ghana’ conspired and snatched, robbed and also abducted the staff of Apin Public Health Initiatives.
He said, “the accused persons committed the offense contrary to section 1(2) A and B and section 6(b) of the Robbery and Fire Arms(Special Provisions) Act, 2004, and Hostage, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Law of Benue State, 2017.”
Agbidye and Zuamo were remanded in prison but Akume being a very powerful man in administration of General Muhammad Buhari then used all his influence to remove them from prison and the case swept under the carpet.
The reward which Agbidye got for perpetrating crimes in Sankera was a reelection as their representative in the Benue State House of Assembly. He was even going to be forced on the House as a principal officer but the plan failed.
Just yesterday, men of the DSS who were acting on a fresh petition against Agbidye arrested the Katsina Ala lawmaker and began a fresh investigation into the killings, rape, kidnapping for ransom and other militia activities in Sankera.
When the news of Agbidye’s arrest came to public notice, the people of Sankera were happy, thinking that peace had returned to the area but their joy was cut short when a confirmed report broke out that SGF George Akume has begun moves to get the accused out of the DSS net.
Those that spoke with this newspaper over the development this evening wondered why the SGF being a father in Benue is seen covering someone who had been confirmed by security agencies as the chief planner of all the crimes in Sankera.
Some of them told this newspaper that Senator Akume should remember how the criminals he is protecting had killed a very prominent and illustrious son of the area, Chief Dr. Terkura Suswam few years ago.
Recall that the late Terkura Suswam was shot in his home by the criminals that have been terrorizing the whole of Sankera Axis of Benue state.
However, it has now become a general belief that more crimes will be committed in Sankera if Senator George Akume succeeds in using his influence to free the detained Agbidye.
To be continued