At least 12 livestock rustlers, including six juveniles, were paraded by the police in Gombe state on Monday.
Out of the 500 animals that were allegedly stolen from the states of Plateau, Bauchi, and Taraba, it was reported that 483 cows, sheep, rams, and donkeys were among them.
When the suspects were paraded, the police commissioner claimed that the arrests in Billiri Local Government Area were made possible by reliable information from sources on recent activities of rustlers in neighboring states.
Babaita disclosed that in order to apprehend the alleged offenders, who were on their way to another place, it took the help of his troops, vigilantes, and hunters.
Other goods found, in his account, including three cutlasses, two AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, 320 rounds of live ammo, 14 empty magazines, and N994,000 in cash.
He said, “Based on credible intelligence that suspected cattle rustlers have rustled over 500 cows from Plateau, Bauchi and Taraba states in large numbers and heading towards Gombe through Bauchi area. The police tactical teams in collaboration with vigilante group and local hunters, mobilised and trailed the rustlers where they were intercepted around Kalmai junction in Billiri LGA of Gombe State.
“The fleeing rustlers abandoned 483 cows, 186 sheep and ram, three Donkeys, two Bajaj boxers motorcycles, two Honda motorcycles, seven Tecno handsets, one Max phone, one Foxkong phone, and the sum of N994,000 was found in their possession.”
Adamu Kupto, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Ethical Orientation, also spoke and indicated that work was being done to start profiling the animals to determine who their real owners were.
“We will start the profiling of the animals to know their owners, the states involved and other things,” Kupto added.
On his part, the Supervising Commissioner for Information, Meshack Lauco, said the state would continue to partner with other states, security agencies in achieving peaceful co-existence.
Lauco said, “We were able to achieve this based on the support of the governor to security agencies. If not for the governor’s stand on peace and security, may be we wouldn’t have had this.”
