PUNCH gathered that while Adzer was arrested, Kwanghbo escaped with AK-47 rifles through the back door of his palace when soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke stormed the palace on Saturday.
Military source said that troops stormed the palaces of the monarchs based on intelligence report.
Chief Kwaghbo was said to have escaped when he heard that his counterpart had been arrested and the soldiers were told that he was in possession of six AK-47 rifles allegedly being used for perpetrating crimes in both Benue and Taraba states.
“Troops swooped on the houses of two persons discovered to be district heads in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday and some arms and ammunition were recovered” a military source said.
The military source disclosed that one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one locally made mortar tube and one vehicle were recovered from Chief Utambe Adzer.
However, a local source disclosed that some soldiers were sighted at the palace of Mue Ter Cha.
The source said; “……The next moment, we saw that the military has arrested the chief. We also saw them bringing out some arms which we heard were discovered in his house.
“They equally razed the round hut located in the palace suspected to be housing the weapons and some criminal elements.”
When contacted, Force Commander of OPWS, Brigadier General Clement Apere declined to comment, saying he couldn’t speak on operations yet to be concluded.
