The Plateau State Police Command has arrested six suspects in connection with cattle rustling, criminal conspiracy, and illegal possession of firearms.
The State Commissioner of Police, Bassey Ewah, disclosed this on Friday while addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Jos during the inauguration of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
He said the arrests were carried out by operatives of the VCRU following sustained intelligence gathering and monitoring of criminal activities across the state.
According to him, the unit was created in line with directives from the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as part of efforts to strengthen security and protect lives and property in Plateau State.
One of the suspects, identified as Yahuza Sale, was arrested after a viral Facebook video allegedly linked to inciting public fear and unrest.
The police commissioner said Sale was apprehended by detectives from the Pankshin Division after intelligence reports were received, and he later confessed during interrogation to being involved in cattle rustling operations alongside another suspect, Victor Danladi, also known as Boka.
According to him, the suspect claimed that locally made AK-47 rifles and revolvers were used during the operations.
Following his confession, police operatives arrested Danladi, and further recovered two locally made AK-47 rifles, three rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and one locally made pump-action gun.
The commissioner said investigations are still ongoing and that the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the process.
He also emphasized that the newly inaugurated VCRU is designed to provide faster, intelligence-driven responses to violent crimes while operating under strict accountability and civilian oversight.
Ewah urged residents to support the police by providing credible information, stressing that effective policing requires community cooperation.
He added that officers in the unit underwent intensive screening and training to ensure professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights in their operations.
