Troops arrest suspected rustlers, kill 2 attackers in Benue
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have arrested suspected cattle rustlers, recovered stolen livestock, and neutralized two armed criminals during a series of operations across Benue State. Our correspondent reports that the operations were carried out between March 3 and March 7, following intelligence reports regarding criminal activities within communities in the joint operations area. […]
The rustled cows being transported across the river
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have arrested suspected cattle rustlers, recovered stolen livestock, and neutralized two armed criminals during a series of operations across Benue State. Our correspondent reports that the operations were carried out between March 3 and March 7, following intelligence reports regarding criminal activities within communities in the joint operations area.
In a statement on Sunday, the Information Officer of OPWS, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, noted that troops of the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion IX intercepted a Sienna bus conveying three fully grown cows suspected to have been rustled during a patrol around Obagaji in Agatu Local Government Area.
Three suspects, identified as Mamuda Hussein (28), Sunday Moses (35), and Teny Musa (22), were arrested during the operation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the cattle were being transported in a vehicle bearing a fake Kogi State Government license plate.
Zubairu added that the suspected gang leader allegedly confessed to being contacted by two individuals to purchase the stolen livestock.
In a separate operation on March 4, troops of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion XV laid an ambush at Abuja village in Agatu LGA following intelligence on the movement of suspected terrorists.
The OPWS spokesman explained that during the encounter, one armed criminal was killed while others escaped.
He said the troops recovered a round of 7.62mm special ammunition from the deceased suspect’s bag.