Army Arrests 92 Armed Herdsmen At Check-Points

armed herdsmenThirty-six herdsmen, who were intercepted on Sunday by troops of the 117 Guards Battalion Keffi, along the Abuja-Keffi road, were yesterday paraded by the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army.
This is just as another group of 56 herdsmen were arrested at the Dantata check point between Kuje and the Abuja airport.
The spokesman of the brigade, Bashir Jajira, told journalists that the 36 herdsmen were arrested by troops at the Keffi check point at about 4:30 pm Sunday in a Diana Truck and a Toyota Camry Salon car.
He said during interrogation by troops at the check point, the herdsmen said they were going to Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa State.
Jajira, a captain, said after a thorough check of the vehicles, the troops discovered one pump action gun, 19 cartridges of dane guns, 118 cartridges of ammo, 28 cutlasses, three jack-knives, 14 sticks, seven torches, assorted charms and hard drugs.
He also said the other group of 56 herdsmen were arrested at the Dantata check point between Kuje and the Abuja Airport in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Brigade spokesman said items recovered from the herdsmen include 26 cartridges, dane guns and 49 cutlasses and knives.
Mr. Jajira said the suspects upon interrogation, claimed to be on the lookout for cattle rustlers who stole their cows.
He said the suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation.
The Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Musa Yusuf, told newsmen that the arrests reaffirmed the resolve of the brigade to rid the nation’s capital of any criminal activity.