Security forces have confirmed the arrest of two herders for destroying crops on community farmlands in Makurdi during a routine patrol operation.
The incident occurred on November 20, 2025, when troops from Operation WHIRL STROKE intercepted the suspects while they were allegedly leading cattle onto cultivated fields belonging to local farmers, causing significant damage to crops.
According to a statement from the military formation, the swift intervention prevented further destruction and averted potential confrontation between the herders and affected farmers.
The suspects remain in custody pending further investigation and prosecution, the statement confirmed.
Force Commander Major General Moses Gara commended the troops’ professionalism while urging community members against taking laws into their own hands.
“Violence or reprisal attacks only worsen tensions and jeopardise peaceful co-existence,” Gara emphasized, while warning herders to refrain from “criminal behaviours that threaten law and order.”
The arrest comes as troops intensify harvest-season protection measures to guarantee food security and safeguard farmlands across Benue State.
Operation WHIRL STROKE reaffirmed its commitment to providing a secure environment for all legitimate enterprises to thrive in the region.
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