Yobe State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old man and recovered 19 cattle suspected to have been stolen in Bursari Local Government Area.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, indicating that operatives of the Garin Alkali Divisional Police Headquarters intercepted the suspect while acting on credible intelligence last Thursday.
According to the statement, the suspect, identified as Umar Sanda of Lafiya Fulani Settlement, via Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, was intercepted at the outskirts of Dumburi Village, Masaba Ward, Bursari LGA, with the livestock under circumstances suggesting that the animals were stolen.
“During preliminary interrogation, the suspect claimed the cattle belonged to his brother, who resides at the same address,” the Command said.
However, the police said the suspect could not provide satisfactory details to prove ownership or lawful possession of the animals.
“Consequently, the suspect was taken into custody, while the nineteen cattle were secured as comprehensive investigation has commenced to establish the true ownership of the livestock and determine whether the offence of cattle rustling or any other related crime was committed,” it said.
It was on this basis that the Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to combating cattle rustling and all forms of criminality in the state.
He urged livestock owners and members of the public to support the police by providing timely and credible information that will aid the prevention and detection of crime.