Nigerian troops stationed in Abuja have arrested 92 armed herdsmen in Abuja, according to reports.
According to Captain Bashir Jajira, the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the Army, 36 suspects were arrested at a military checkpoint between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State. The other 56 suspects were arrested at a checkpoint in Dantata along Abuja Airport Road.
“A group of 36 herdsmen in a Diana Truck and Toyota Camry car with the registration number Abu Kuje 994 FC and Niger SUL 541 XA were intercepted and arrested at 177 Guards Battalion’s location by the Keffi checkpoint,” Mr. Jajira said.
The soldiers recovered several weapons from the suspects, including one pump action gun, 19 Dane guns, and 118 cartridges of ammo. “Assorted charms and hard drugs” were also confiscated, according to the spokesman.
The suspects will be handed over to the police for prosecution.
The arrests came a week President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the deployment of military personnel to regions of the country affected by violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
According to Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the federal government is considering allotting land for cattle rearing in order to prevent future clashes between herdsmen and farmers from erupting.