Troops Arrest Two Cattle Rustlers, Recover Arms In Plateau

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace, under the 3 Division/Joint Task Force (JTF) in Plateau State, have arrested two notorious cattle rustlers and recovered arms and ammunition in Mangu Local Government Area.

Spokesman for the task force, Major Samson Zhakom, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, saying the operation was carried out on September 11 in Kogul village following credible intelligence.

“During the operation, troops arrested two notorious cattle rustlers and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, one fabricated revolver rifle, ten rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, one mobile phone, and cash,” Zhakom said.

He noted that the suspects and recovered items are in custody for investigation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate.

“This arrest is pivotal to the ongoing efforts to tackle the triggers of crisis, which troops of 3 Division/JTF OPEP are actively involved in and have sworn to do in the Joint Operations Area,” Zhakom added.

Security analysts say the arrests mark a significant step in tackling criminal activities linked to rural violence in Plateau, a hotspot of recurring clashes between armed groups.