Troops Recover 120 Rustled Cattle, Repel Rustlers in Kaduna

By Zagazola Makama

KADUNA – Troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered 120 rustled cattle after engaging suspected cattle rustlers during an operation in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 4:00 p.m. on Thursday after troops of 312 Artillery Regiment, deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kankomi, received a distress call over cattle rustling activities in Kankomi village.

The troops swiftly responded and laid an ambush along the suspected escape route of the rustlers.

The sources said the troops made contact with the fleeing suspects in Kadaru Bush, forcing them to abandon the stolen livestock and escape into the surrounding forest.

Following the operation, the troops recovered 120 cattle, which were subsequently identified and handed over to their rightful owners.

Security forces have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing rustlers and sustain operations aimed at curbing cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the area.

Troops Recover 120 Rustled Cattle, Repel Rustlers in Kaduna

Suspected Looter Dies After Arrest Attempt in Borno, Illicit Drugs Recovered

By Zagazola Makama

A suspected looter who was apprehended by troops of the Nigerian Army in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State has died after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest while attempting to flee from security personnel.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 1:45 a.m. on June 25 when troops of 3 Battalion (Mechanised) under 24 Task Force Brigade, aided by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), detected suspicious movement through closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance around the Junior Quarters in Ngala.

The troops swiftly responded and apprehended a suspect allegedly involved in looting goods from a bogged-down vehicle.

According to the sources, the suspect attempted to escape while being taken into custody but suddenly collapsed during the pursuit.

He was immediately evacuated to the Ngala General Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

A medical examination attributed the death to cardiac arrest, allegedly caused by an overdose of illicit drugs.

The sources said security personnel recovered quantities of tramadol and flurazepam from the deceased.

The incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police in Ngala for further investigation and necessary action

Suspected Looter Dies After Arrest Attempt in Borno, Illicit Drugs Recovered

KACRAN Rejects State Police, Pushes Jobs and Dialogue as Solution to Insecurity

By: Michael Mike

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has opposed the growing calls for the establishment of state police, insisting that massive job creation and sustained dialogue offer a more effective and enduring solution to the country’s worsening insecurity.

The association said creating state police forces would amount to treating the symptoms of insecurity rather than addressing its root causes, which it identified as poverty, unemployment, resource-based conflicts and social exclusion.

In a statement signed by its National President, Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello, KACRAN said extensive consultations and field engagements across the North-West and North-Central regions convinced the association that economic empowerment and community-based conflict resolution mechanisms are more sustainable pathways to peace than setting up new policing structures.

KACRAN noted that Nigeria enjoyed relative peace in earlier decades not because of the existence of state police but because traditional institutions, community structures and economic opportunities helped manage disputes before they escalated into violence.

The association warned that pastoralists could become vulnerable to victimisation in states with anti-grazing laws if state police were established. It also raised concerns that some state governments could deploy their police forces against political opponents and other citizens, thereby undermining democratic principles and civil liberties.

According to KACRAN, the financial implications of creating and maintaining state police formations would be enormous, particularly for states with limited revenue bases. It argued that scarce resources would be better spent on improving access to water, agriculture, healthcare, education and employment programmes rather than building another security bureaucracy.

The association further cautioned that establishing state police could trigger operational conflicts and rivalries between federal and state security commands, potentially complicating coordination and weakening security responses.

Pointing to the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme initiated under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, KACRAN said dialogue had previously succeeded in reducing violent conflicts and could again serve as a powerful tool for resolving contemporary security challenges if properly institutionalised.

The group also warned against weakening existing security arrangements involving the military, the Nigeria Police Force and community vigilante groups, many of which are already supported by state governments through logistics and operational assistance.

Instead of creating state police, KACRAN urged the Federal Government to embark on massive recruitment into the police, military and other security agencies to bridge manpower shortages. It also called for aggressive investments in job creation and food security programmes to prevent unemployed youths from being recruited into criminal networks.

The association further advocated empowering traditional rulers and community leaders as first responders to local disputes and integrating them into formal conflict resolution mechanisms backed by government support.

KACRAN reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Federal Government and security agencies in efforts to restore peace, protect livelihoods and preserve Nigeria’s unity.

KACRAN Rejects State Police, Pushes Jobs and Dialogue as Solution to Insecurity