Cattle Rustling, Local Militia Activities Behind Sai Community Attack in Benue 

By Zagazola Makama

Emerging security intelligence has identified persistent cattle rustling and the activities of armed local militias as the major factors that culminated in the recent attack on Sai Community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack, which occurred on June 30, 2026, is believed by security sources to have been a retaliatory assault carried out by armed herders following months of attacks allegedly orchestrated against herders and their livestock by criminal militia groups operating within the area.

According to intelligence obtained by Zagazola Makama, the violence did not occur in isolation but represents the latest development in a prolonged cycle of reprisals that has continued to fuel insecurity across parts of Benue State.

Security findings indicate that for several months, organised criminal groups operating around Katsina-Ala had repeatedly targeted herders, rustled cattle, and attacked livestock grazing routes.

One intelligence report revealed that at about 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 3, 2026, a suspected criminal kingpin identified as Abam allegedly instructed one of his associates, Anyogo, to mobilise armed men to ambush herders reportedly moving toward the Udorugh axis.

During the intercepted conversation, the suspects were said to have discussed plans to rustle cattle and explored possible markets where the stolen livestock could later be sold.

Investigators believe the discussion provided further evidence that cattle rustling had become a structured criminal enterprise rather than isolated incidents of livestock theft.

Another intelligence report dated Feb. 18, 2026, indicated that another suspected militia leader, identified simply as Chen, allegedly informed his associates that he had engaged herders in a violent confrontation at Gbagir Village.

During the clash, two cows belonging to the herders were reportedly killed, while the suspect allegedly expressed willingness to continue future attacks against pastoral communities.

Zagazola learnt that such repeated incidents significantly heightened tensions between farming and herding communities, creating conditions that eventually resulted in retaliatory violence.

However, intelligence sources stressed that the activities of the criminal militias extend beyond attacks on herders.

According to the sources, the armed groups have also been terrorising residents within their own communities through killings, intimidation, kidnappings and extortion.

The groups are alleged to execute community members suspected of sharing information with security agencies, impose illegal levies on villages under their influence, burn settlements that refuse to comply with their demands, and abduct innocent civilians for ransom.

Security officials believe these criminal activities have weakened community structures and created an atmosphere of fear that discourages residents from cooperating with law enforcement agencies.

Sources further disclosed that inadequate intelligence sharing from some affected communities has continued to undermine ongoing security operations.

Many residents, according to the findings, are reluctant to volunteer information due to fear of reprisals from the armed groups, while some influential individuals allegedly provide protection and public support to the criminal elements by portraying them as community defenders instead of criminal actors.

Sources  warn that such narratives often complicate counter-criminal operations by making it difficult to isolate genuine community defence initiatives from organised criminal networks.

Investigators therefore believe that the attack on Sai Community should be understood within the broader context of sustained criminality, cattle rustling and retaliatory violence that have persisted in parts of Katsina-Ala and neighbouring communities.

They stressed that unless the underlying criminal economy driven by cattle rustling, armed militias, kidnapping and illegal taxation is dismantled, isolated military responses may only provide temporary relief while leaving the cycle of revenge attacks unresolved.

Security agencies are said to be intensifying intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling the criminal networks operating within the area, recovering illegally acquired firearms, rescuing kidnapped victims and restoring confidence among affected communities.

Authorities have also appealed to residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information, assuring that measures are being strengthened to protect informants and improve security across the affected communities.