Troops of 707 Special Forces Brigade conducting Exercise Ayam Akpatuma on Monday arrested five suspected cultists in Katsina-Ala Local Government area of Benue State.
The suspects were said to be students of College of Education, Katsina-Ala who were about to be initiated as new members.
Troops acted on credible information followed by raid operations which led to their arrest.
The suspects arrested are, Mr Dennis Victor Terfa, Mr Emmanuel Daniel Akpagher, Mr Akuse Jacob Aondongu, Mr Kpo Isaac and Mr Idika Kelechi.
The Army made this known through its Assistant Director, Public Relations, Major Olabisi Olekan Ayeni, Similarly, troops operating at Sector C of the same exercise carried out cordon and search operations at Ukum Local Government Area which also led to the arrest of gun runners and cattle rustler.
Among the suspects arrested is a 55-year-old weapon instructor, Mr Samuel Gaza, who is a member of the Livestock Guard confessed to have been rustling cows for over four years before he was unsuspectingly recruited by the state government, while Mr Jato Aontoseer, confess that he is a gun runner, Mr Avaatyough Aontoseer is a weapon fabricator.
Items recovered were: one Fabrique National rifle, 3 Fabrique National and AK 47 magazines, one locally made pistol, 3 Dane guns, 4 mobile phones and one axe, military belt, lanyard and a beret, charms, some quantity of Indian Hemp.
The Nigerian Army, therefore, requested for law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful businesses and provide timely information that will assist the Army in the successful conduct of the exercise.
