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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police foil cattle rustling in Sokoto, arrest three suspects

From The Punch · (5m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Sokoto State Police have arrested three suspects and recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and 46 rustled cows in operations conducted between April and May.
  • The arrests followed intelligence-led operations, including patrols and stop-and-search activities, which led to the apprehension of suspects in possession of illegal firearms and stolen cattle.
  • The Police Commissioner commended the officers involved and emphasized the importance of community-police collaboration in tackling insecurity, vowing to pursue fleeing suspects.

In a decisive move against rampant criminality, the Sokoto State Police Command has reported significant successes in combating cattle rustling and illegal arms possession. Through a series of well-coordinated operations spanning April and May, law enforcement officers have apprehended three key suspects and recovered a cache of dangerous weapons and a substantial number of stolen livestock.

Following intensified patrols and stop-and-search operations along the Tangaza–Gidan Madi Road, three suspects were arrested.

— Ahmad Rufa'iPolice Public Relations Officer, detailing the circumstances of the arrest of three suspects involved in illegal activities.

The operations, which were bolstered by timely intelligence, targeted suspicious activities in various parts of the state. In one instance, operatives attached to the Gidan Madi Police Station intercepted three individuals on the outskirts of Tangaza town. Their subsequent search yielded a fabricated AK-47 rifle, ammunition, dane guns, and several charms, indicating a sophisticated criminal network.

They were identified as Aliyu Bello, 30; Dahiru Umar, 25; and Bashar Isah Yusuf, 29, all residents of Kwazari village in Kware Local Government Area.

— Ahmad Rufa'iPolice Public Relations Officer, identifying the three suspects arrested in Sokoto State.

Further operations by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit successfully foiled a cattle rustling attack in Gidan Bubu village, Wamakko Local Government Area. Although the armed bandits fled with injuries after an exchange of gunfire, the police pursuit led to the recovery of 19 cows. Another 27 cows were recovered near Zamoriya village after suspects, believed to be members of the Lakurawa group, abandoned their loot upon sighting security operatives.

Items recovered from the suspects included one fabricated AK-47 rifle, one magazine, 17 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, two 32g cartridges, two dane guns, and six charms.

— Ahmad Rufa'iPolice Public Relations Officer, listing the items recovered from the arrested suspects.

Commissioner of Police Hayatu Hassan Shaffa lauded the officers for their bravery and reaffirmed the command's unwavering commitment to eradicating criminal elements. He stressed that these breakthroughs highlight the critical role of community-police collaboration and urged residents to continue providing vital information. The police are actively pursuing the remaining suspects and working to reunite the recovered cattle with their rightful owners, demonstrating a resolute stance against insecurity in the state.

A tactical team pursued the attackers to Gidan Gawe Forest in Silame Local Government Area, where the suspects abandoned 19 cows and fled with injuries after an exchange of gunfire.

— Ahmad Rufa'iPolice Public Relations Officer, describing the operation that led to the recovery of 19 cows.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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