Insurgency: Guards Brigade arrest 85 suspected herdsmen in Abuja

Soldiers of the Guards Brigade have arrested 85 herdsmen who tried to gain entry into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

While 36 of the suspects were arrested at exactly 4.30.pm by soldiers from 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi on security duty at one of the entry points into the FCT, in Nassarawa State, 56 others were arrested on the same day at exactly 4pm, along Gwalada/Kuje, airport road by soldiers on security check point.

The suspects, who claim to be on the lookout for their lost cattle, were arrested in two vehicles a Diana Truck with registration number SUL 541 XA Niger, and a Toyota Camry car with registration number ABJ KUJ 994 FX.

They were found to be in possession of various weapons, ammunitions, charms during their arrest.

Items recovered from the suspects include one pump action gun, 19 cartridges, 118 cartridge ammunitions, 28 cutlasses, three jack knives, 14 sticks, seven torchlights, assorted charms and drugs and one Certificate of Occupancy.

Parading the suspects before newsmen in Abuja, Public Relations Officer in charge of the Brigade, Captain Bashir Jajira,said 56 herdsmen were also arrested, same day at Gwagwalada, by soldiers on security check points between Kuje and Airport Road.

Items recovered from the suspects include 26, cartridges Dane guns, 49, cutlasses and assorted knives, charms and other dangerous weapons.

Upon interrogation, he said the suspects also claimed that they were going after people who stole their cows.

Not satisfied with their explanation couple with the huge number of weapons in their possession, the soldiers decided to alert their headquarters who immediately arrested the suspects and took them into custody for further interrogation

Meanwhile, Senator Shehu Sani has said  that Nigeria may have to pay a  “very high price” to secure the release of abducted Chibok girls, by releasing some captured Boko Haram members.

Sani said this when he spoke with newsmen: “I think we may need to pay the highest of price  we need to get these girls out even if it means freeing  up some of their members in detention.

“I don’t like this academic argument of saying, ‘if this happens, then that thing will happen.’

“I believe that why these girls have to continue to stay in the hands of these captives is simply because of class difference. This is the truth of the hostage situation in Nigeria.”

When the children of the high and mighty are abducted, or their wives and brothers are kidnapped it takes no time to secure their freedom.  That is not good enough.  We  must take the  life of every Nigeria as equal to the other.”