The Benue State Police Command has taken three individuals into custody over an alleged cattle rustling operation in Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area.
Security sources disclosed that the arrests were made after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Naka received credible intelligence around 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday from a local resident, Mr. Atime Iorhinja, 34, of Mbabija Nagi community.
According to the information, a group of youths believed to be from Agagbe were reportedly seen moving suspected stolen cattle from Agabe toward Mbabija, triggering fear and heightened tension among residents in the area.
Acting swiftly on the report, the DPO deployed a combined team of police officers, detectives, and operatives of Operation Restore Peace to intercept the suspects.
During the operation, one of the suspects, Kator Akpera, 19, from Agabe, was apprehended while driving a Hiace bus conveying a slaughtered cow believed to be part of the rustled livestock. The vehicle was immediately seized by the police.
A second suspect, identified as 20-year-old Tersuwe Ugbakyaa from Agagbe, was also arrested at the location after officers allegedly discovered a cow tail in his pocket.
Eyewitnesses later pointed out a third suspect, Akaave Timothy, 25, also of Agagbe, as having played a role in the incident, leading to his subsequent arrest.
“The suspects are currently in custody and investigation is ongoing,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, the police command confirmed that additional security measures have been deployed across the area to prevent possible reprisal attacks by herders or residents of affected communities.
