Troops raid militias shrine, kill chief priest in Benue

TROOPS of 707 Special Forces Brigade of the Nigerian Army said it raided the shrine and killed a notorious native Doctor Tordue Gber popularly known as Tiv Swem, who act as spiritual adviser to the wanted armed criminal militias at Tor-dunga town, Katsina-ala Local Council Area of Benue State.

A statement signed by Army’s spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman in Abuja, yesterday said the troops on Monday succeeded in arresting the occupant, Gber, who is an ally of the wanted notorious criminal, , Akwazar T erwase alias Gana.

The statement reads: “Preliminary investigation shows that 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 T araba States.

“The native doctor was arrested along with one of his accomplice, Atoo Kuwe Francis, while planning to carry out an attack and abduct one Zay a at T se Bente village in the same LGA. However, 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.”

It would be recalled that he was declared wanted by the security agencies and has been at large since 2016.