Troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have arrested a 34-year-old Mwaghavul Militia suspected of involvement in cattle rustling and recovered four suspected rustled cattle during a raid in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 9:37 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2026, at Mangun village, following a manhunt for suspected cattle rustlers linked to a reported rustling incident in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area on Aug. 18., after attacking fulani herders.
The suspect, identified as Matthew Ishaya, was arrested at his residence during the operation.
Troops also recovered four cattle suspected to have been rustled and a Bajaj motorcycle from the residence.
Zagazola report that cattle rustling and targeted attacks on herders and local residents have been among the recurring triggers of violence in Plateau State, often setting off retaliatory attacks that deepen mistrust and sustain a cycle of bloodshed.
In several instances, allegations of cattle theft, killings and reprisal attacks have circulated within affected communities without receiving corresponding attention. This uneven visibility has distort public understanding of the conflict, further reinforcing perceptions of selective reporting and make it harder to establish a complete, evidence-based account of how the violence escalates.
The suspect and the recovered items were taken into custody for further investigation to establish the origin of the cattle and determine the suspect's alleged involvement in the earlier incident.
Security sources said the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to track down suspected cattle rustlers and disrupt criminal networks operating across Plateau State and neighbouring areas.- By Zagazola Makama
