Troops apprehend 92 armed Fulani herdsmen in Abuja

The soldiers of the Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army have arrested 92 Fulani herdsmen in Abuja, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Guards Brigade, Capt. Bashir Jajira, has said.

According to the Brigade’s spokesman,  the herdsmen numbering  36,  were arrested by the troops at a military checkpoint between the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.

PUNCH reports that the suspected herdsmen were said to have told the soldiers that they were on a mission to recover their stolen cows.

Jajira said that 56 others who were also armed were arrested by the soldiers at a military checkpoint at Dantata, along the Abuja Airport Road.

He said that the troops recovered 'one pump action gun, 19 cartridge dane guns, 118 cartridge ammo, 28 cutlasses, 3 jack knives, 14 sticks, 7 torch lights, certificate of occupancy, assorted charms and hard drugs.'

He said, “A group of 36 herdsmen in Diana Truck and Toyota Camry car with registration number Abu Kuje 994 FX and Niger SUL 541 XA were intercepted and arrested at 177 Guards Battalion location by Keffi checkpoint.

“During the interrogation by troops at the checkpoint, they claimed to be going to Nasarawa Local Government in Nasarawa State.”

He said that the arrested herdsmen would be handed over to the police for prosecution.