Police arrest three over cattle rustling, recover stolen livestock in Benue

The Benue State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with an alleged cattle rustling incident in Naka, the administrative centre of Gwer West Local Government Area.

Security sources revealed that the operation followed actionable intelligence received at about 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Naka.

The tip-off reportedly came from a resident, Mr. Atime Iorhinja, 34, of Mbabija Nagi community.

The information indicated that some youths, said to be from Agagbe, were seen transporting suspected stolen cattle from Agabe towards Mbabija, a development that sparked anxiety and tension among locals.

In response, the DPO mobilised a joint team comprising police personnel, detectives and operatives of Operation Restore Peace to track down the suspects.

During the operation, a 19-year-old suspect, Kator Akpera from Agabe, was intercepted while driving a Hiace bus allegedly conveying a slaughtered cow believed to be part of the rustled animals. The vehicle was promptly impounded.

Another suspect, Tersuwe Ugbakyaa, 20, from Agagbe, was arrested at the scene after operatives reportedly found a cow tail in his pocket.

Following eyewitness accounts, a third suspect, Akaave Timothy, 25, also from Agagbe, was later identified as being involved in the incident and was subsequently taken into custody.

“The suspects are currently in custody and investigation is ongoing,” the sources said.

The police command further confirmed that additional security deployments have been made in the area to avert any possible reprisal attacks by herders or members of affected communities.