Troops of 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP) have scored a major breakthrough in the fight against cattle rustling in Plateau State with the arrest of two notorious rustlers and recovery of arms during a targeted operation in Mangu Local Government Area.
The intelligence-led operation, conducted on Thursday, 11 September 2025, saw soldiers storm Kogul Village, a suspected hideout of the syndicate. The raid led to the arrest of two suspects believed to have been behind several cattle rustling incidents that have fueled tensions and violent clashes in the area.
According to military authorities, troops recovered the following items during the raid:
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One AK-47 rifle
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One AK-47 magazine
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One fabricated revolver rifle
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Ten rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition
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One mobile phone
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Cash
The suspects and seized items are currently in military custody for investigation. Officials confirmed that follow-up operations are ongoing to track down other members of the criminal syndicate who escaped during the raid.
Security analysts have repeatedly identified cattle rustling as a key driver of communal violence and reprisal attacks across Plateau and other parts of the Middle Belt. The Army described the arrest as pivotal in addressing one of the major triggers of conflict within the Joint Operations Area.
Major Samson Nantip Zhakom, Media Information Officer of JTF Operation Enduring Peace, stressed that the troops remain resolute in dismantling criminal networks and restoring stability. “This arrest is pivotal to the ongoing efforts to tackle the triggers of crisis. Troops of 3 Division/JTF OPEP are actively engaged and committed to ensuring lasting peace in the Joint Operations Area,” he said.
Local residents in Mangu LGA have welcomed the development, describing it as a relief after months of fear and insecurity caused by cattle theft and associated attacks. Many community leaders believe the Army’s intensified operations will reduce the cycle of violence and restore farmers and herders’ confidence to go about their daily activities without fear.
Military sources disclosed that JTF OPEP is adopting a multi-pronged approach that combines intelligence gathering, rapid response operations, and collaboration with local security outfits. The ongoing efforts, they added, are designed not only to arrest suspects but also to dismantle the wider supply chains and networks that sustain cattle rustling in Plateau State.
The raid at Kogul Village is the latest in a series of decisive actions by JTF OPEP to deny criminal groups safe havens across the Joint Operations Area, reinforcing the Army’s pledge to sustain pressure until lasting peace is achieved.
