Soldiers raid militias spiritual leader’s shrine, kill chief priest while planning new Benue attack (PHOTOS)

The Nigerian Army has killed a famous spiritual leader for wanted armed militia in Benue State while planning to carry out a new attack.

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 chief priest, Mr. Tordue Gber (Tiv Swem) was gunned down by troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade, Nigerian Army, last Monday.

Army spokesman, Sani Usman, a Brigadier General, said this in a statement late Tuesday.

Below is the full statement:

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.