Troops of the 233 Tank Battalion have arrested three suspected cattle rustlers during an intelligence-led security sweep in Gombe State.

The suspects were apprehended at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026, during targeted operations at Mel Uku, located within the Akko Local Government Area.

The military intervention followed actionable intelligence tracking active criminal networks specializing in livestock theft and the disruption of local farming communities across the area.

During preliminary interrogations, the three suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the criminal enterprise, admitting that they had actively operated their cattle-rustling syndicate for more than two years.

Security forces conducting the raid successfully recovered several operational tools and evidence from the suspects, including three mobile phones, three cutlasses, a bow with arrows, and ₦24,750 in cash, which investigators believe to be direct proceeds from their illicit sales.

The suspects remain in military custody where they are undergoing further interrogation. Meanwhile, tactical teams have intensified tracking efforts to identify, locate, and dismantle remaining offshoots of the syndicate operating within the region.