Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have scored a major breakthrough in Plateau State, arresting three suspected Berom militia members and recovering 84 rustled cattle following an attack on a Fulani pastoralist in Riyom Local Government Area.
Security sources revealed that troops of Sector 6, stationed at Dokku, swiftly responded to a distress call at about 5:00 p.m. on April 22 reporting cattle rustling behind Makera market. Acting on intelligence, the soldiers launched an immediate search-and-rescue mission, tracking the stolen livestock to a riverine hideout.
In a decisive operation, all 84 cattle were recovered and returned to their rightful owner, while three suspects linked to the crime were apprehended and taken into military custody for further investigation.
The latest arrest comes amid a surge in cattle rustling, livestock poisoning, and attacks on pastoralists across Plateau communities, including Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu, and Riyom—incidents widely seen as fueling the region’s protracted crisis.
Security agencies have in recent weeks recorded multiple breakthroughs, including the interception of stolen cattle in Nasarawa and the recovery of dozens of rustled livestock in separate operations across Plateau. Despite these gains, authorities warn that organized networks behind the illicit trade in stolen cattle remain active.
Military sources say ongoing operations are aimed at dismantling these networks, restoring calm, and preventing further cycles of reprisal attacks that continue to heighten tensions in the state.
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