Troops Foil Illegal Grazing, Recover 18 Cattle at Plateau University
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have recovered 18 cattle after herders allegedly engaged security personnel in a violent confrontation over illegal grazing within the Plateau State University (PLASU) campus in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 6:10 p.m. on November 1, 2026, when troops of Sector 5 OPEP deployed at the university responded to a report of cattle grazing illegally within the school compound.
The sources said the troops arrived at the scene and discovered herders violently confronting university security personnel in an attempt to force their cattle out of the campus.
The situation reportedly escalated, prompting the troops to fire warning shots to disperse the aggressive herders.
The herders subsequently abandoned 18 cattle and fled the scene.
During the confrontation, the herders allegedly damaged the windscreen of a university security Hilux vehicle.
The abandoned cattle were recovered and moved to the troops’ location for further necessary action.
Security sources said troops expended seven rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the operation to restore normalcy.
The incident comes amid ongoing efforts by Operation Enduring Peace to address illegal grazing, prevent confrontations between herders and communities, and maintain security across Plateau State.
Further efforts are expected to establish the identities of the fleeing herders and determine appropriate action regarding the recovered cattle and damaged university property.
