By Amos Aar
THE Benue State Police Command has announced that it has apprehended eight (8) suspected hoodlums for allegedly rustling cows belonging to Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Sewuese Anene, in a statement on Tuesday said the arrest of the suspects followed an investigation carried out by the police for some time.
According to SP Anene, some of the suspects were arrested on April 10, 2023 and they include one Terwase Nyion also known as Orjen (hungry man) and three others not mentioned in the statement while Tersoo Tyo, Meryina Dziegh, Jimeshio Dziegh, Tarhar Dziegh and Mercy Iyio were nabbed on April 16, 2023.
The PPRO further disclosed that the suspects usually connived with criminal herders to rustle cows and lied to Fulani that residents of Benue communities were responsible for the theft, causing the herders to come for attack during which the hoodlums gain opportunity to loot from victims of the crises in addition to the money they share with their Fulani connivers from the sale of stolen cows.
The suspects who were allegedly arrested with a locally made pistol with live ammunition and four cows confessed to have been committing the crime “viciously” according to Anene.
The statement signed by SP Anene, entitled: “Arrest of suspected cattle rustlers who foment crises between herders and farmers” reads:
“In recent times, investigation into herder-farmer conflict in most local governments reveals that some hoodlums from both herder and farms clan have been fueling crises in these areas for their own gain. There is need to identify these criminal elements and deal with them in accordance with the laws
“On 10/4/2020 at about 1700hrs. Men of Operation Zenda JTF on patrol in Guma Local Government Area intercepted and arrested one Terwase Nyion aka Orjen and three (3) others while others fled from the scene. Investigation reveals that the syndicate usually conspire with criminal herders to rustle cattle, sell and share the proceeds.
“They go back to the same victims (herders) to deceive them that their cattle were rustled by farmers so as to create crises and have more opportunity to loot from innocent persons. Items recovered from them include: one (1) locally made pistol loaded with one round of 9mm live ammunition and four cows. Suspects confessed to be a vicious syndicate made up of herders & farmers.
“On 16/4/2023 at about 1700hrs, information was received that some hoodlums had attacked herders grazing in Tarkaa local government area and made away 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”.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, in the statement called on herders and farmers to report cases to the Police for proper handling rather than take laws into their hands.
