Benue State Police Command has arrested nine suspected members of a syndicate that connived with armed herdsmen to rustle cattle and recovered one locally made pistol loaded with one round of 9mm live ammunition and four cows.
The police public relations officer (PPRO) Catherine Anene who disclosed this in a statement explained that in recent times, investigation into herder/farmer conflict in most local governments has revealed that some hoodlums from both herder and farmers have been fuelling crises in these areas for their own selfish gains.
Recall that Governor Samuel Ortom during a visit at LGED Primary School Ngban Internally Displaced Persons IDPs camp where suspected armed herders attacked IDPs and killed 39 persons and injured scores, lamented on the alleged involvement of some young persons in Benue who he said are conniving with armed herdsmen to rustle cattle and sell them.
The governor also alleged that some traditional rulers and stakeholders in some affected communities are not exempted in the unholy act even as he directed the security agencies to arrest anyone found guilty no matter how highly placed.
“I want to warn here that those of you conniving with the armed herdsmen to rustle cattle we condemn this act and urge you to desist from the unholy act because I have directed the security agencies to arrest anyone found wanting, irrespective of status, tribe, religion and affiliation,” he said.
