Following subsequent incidents, armed herders turned communities in the state into killing grounds last week, with devastating attacks on Igbobi, Umogidi, and Mgban towns in Apa, Otukpo, and Guma local government areas of the state, respectively, killing about 130 people, the State Government announced a two-week suspension of livestock guard duties to enable for an investigation into alleged cattle rustling instances in several sections of the state.
However, the Benue Police Command unveiled nine alleged rustlers on Wednesday who collaborated with illegal herders to rustle and divide the proceeds.
The defendants “specialized in cattle rustling, which fueled killings in the state,” according to the State Command spokesperson Catherine Anene, who paraded them.
“In recent times, investigation into herder/farmer conflict in most Local Governments have revealed that some hoodlums from both herder and farm clans have been fueling crises in these areas for their own gain,” Anene added. These criminal elements must be identified and dealt with in accordance with the law.
“On October 4th, 2020, about 1700hrs, on patrol in Guma Local Government Area, men from Operation Zenda JFT apprehended Terwase Nyion aka Orjen and three others, while others left the scene.”
She continued, “On March 16th, 2023, at approximately 1700hrs, information was received that some hoodlums had attacked herders grazing in Tarkaa Local Government Area and made off with some cattle.
“Police detectives in the area immediately stormed their hideout and arrested the following persons: Terdoo Tyo, Meryima Dziegh, Jimeshio Dziegh, Tahar Dziegh, and Mercy Iyio, who was already preparing cow meat in the kitchen.”
According to the PPRO, the syndicate frequently coordinated with criminal herders to rustle livestock, sell them, and spilt the revenue.
“They return to the same victims (herders) to deceive them that their cattle were rustled by farmers in order to create crises and more opportunities to loot from innocent people.”
She stated that the materials collected from them included a locally made revolver loaded with one round of 9mm live ammo and four cows, and the “suspects confessed to being a vicious syndicate made up of herders and farmers.”