In its efforts to ensure a crime-free environment within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, the troops from the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army on Sunday arrested about 92 suspected herdsmen within Abuja and Nasarawa State.
The Assistant Director Army Public Relations (ADAPR), Guards Brigade, Capt Bashir Jajira, disclosed this in a statement yesterday, saying that about 36 suspected herdsmen claimed to be on a mission to recover their alleged stolen cattle were stopped on their track at the check point bordering FCT and Nasarawa State.
Jajira said another 56 set of armed suspected herdsmen were arrested by soldiers in Dantata, the military checkpoint along airport road also entering the FCT on Sunday.
He said there were those arrested at the Keffi entry point by the soldiers at the check-point in two vehicles, a Diana pick up truck and Toyota Camry saloon car, with assorted arms and ammunition.
“A group of 36 herdsmen in Diana truck and Toyota Camry car with Reg No.Abj Kuj 994 FX and Niger Sul 541 XA were intercepted and arrested at 177 Guards Battalion location b Keffi point. During interrogation by the troops at the checkpoint, they claim to be going to Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa State,” he stated.
The spokesman said after a thorough checking of the vehicles, several weapons were recovered including: pump action gun, 19 cartridge Dane guns, 118 cartridge ammo, 28 cutlasses, three jack knives, 14 sticks, seven touch lights, certificate of occupancy, assorted charms and hard drugs.
He said the suspected herdsmen were arrested while claiming “ to be going to Nasarawa Local Government in Nasarawa state”.
Jajira assured that the suspects would be handed over to the civil Police authority for prosecution, adding that”at about 4:00pm on Sunday 17th April 2016, 56 herdsmen were arrested in Dantata Gwagwalada General area, items recovered from them includes 26 cartridge Dane guns, 49 knives and cutlasses.”
“They however claimed to be on the look out on hose who stole their cows,” he added
The Commander Guards Brigade, Brig-Gen. Musa Yusuf, assured residents of the FCT that criminals cannot find a safe haven within Abuja, as the collaboration with other security agencies would be strengthened to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the nation’s capital.
Yusuf called on the public to ensure that information on criminal activities gets to the security agencies early enough for appropriate action to be taken.
