Former Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State is in fresh trouble. He has been arrested by the Department of State Service, DSS, over an alleged connection with the killings in Benue State.
He was invited by the agency on Tuesday over a petition by a high ranking politician, alleging that he (Suswam) was habouring Mr. Terwase Akwaza, a.k.a ‘Ghana’. Police had declared Akwaza wanted, following the killing of about 17 people in Zaki Biam, Benue State, in March last year. He had also been alleged to be part of those behind incessant killings in many Benue villages
Sources said that working on the petition by the top politician, the DSS, which had arrested Suswam in February last year, placed him on a closer watch until he was invited on Tuesday and had since been held in custody. Suswam’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), it was learned, went to the DSS office to see him, yesterday, but was not allowed access.
When he was arrested last year, the DSS in a statement issued by Tony Opuiyo, said; “The Department of State Services, DSS, wishes to inform the public that on February 24, 2017, between 2100 hours and 0242 hours, the service executed a search warrant, at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at No 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja.”
“The operation was informed by intelligence that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property, particularly a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ), which were subsequently confiscated.”
“Consequently, on February 25, 2017, about 1000hours, in the presence of two (2) private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the cars were searched and the following items were recovered ‘’Weapons: (i) glock pistol with two (2) magazines and a total of Twenty-Nine (29) rounds of ammunition; (ii) mini-Uzi with two (2) magazines containing 10 rounds and 4 rounds respectively; (iii) forty-two (42) extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack; and (iv) One (1) AK-47.”
“Other items recovered include: i. Twenty-one (21) Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one (1) Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy; ii. Twenty-three (23) Luxury designer watches; and iii. Forty-five (45) keys to various exotic cars. “Following this discovery, the Service launched further investigation which revealed that the cars and the recovered items belong to the former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam who has already been invited by the Service and presently helping in the investigations.”