Army arrests three suspects, recovers 84 rustled cattle in Plateau

Troops of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Enduring Peace, have arrested three suspected Berom militia and recovered 84 rustled cattle following an attack on Fulani pastoralists in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This was disclosed in a post shared by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama via his X handle.

Security sources said troops of Sector 6, deployed at Dokku, responded at about 5:00 p.m. on April 22 to a report of cattle rustling behind Makera market.

On arrival, the troops launched a search and rescue operation, tracking the movement of the rustled livestock to a riverine location.

The sources said all 84 cattle were successfully recovered and returned to their rightful owner.

Three suspects believed to be connected to the incident were also apprehended and are currently in military custody for further investigation.

The development comes amid growing concerns over cattle rustling, livestock attacks and reprisals, which have continued to fuel tensions across communities in Plateau State.

Incidents of livestock theft and attacks on pastoralists have been identified as key drivers of the protracted crisis in areas such as Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom.

Security sources note that such activities often trigger cycles of violence, further complicating peace efforts in the state.