The Ekiti State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its anti–cattle rustling operations with the recovery of 558 rustled cattle and the arrest of 17 suspects across the state.
The Commissioner of Police disclosed this during a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti, attributing the success to intelligence-led operations and coordinated bush-combing exercises carried out by tactical and divisional units.
He said on Jan. 21, operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested one Ibrahim Abubakar, a notorious cattle rustler and kidnapping kingpin, who had been on the wanted list of Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states.
According to him, investigation revealed that the suspect had over the years attacked cattle owners and rustled livestock across the three states, adding that 255 cattle were recovered from him at the point of arrest.
The police boss further disclosed that on the same day, operatives of the Isan-Ekiti Divisional Headquarters stormed a forest following a tip-off and arrested 16 suspected cattle rustlers.
He said 303 cattle suspected to have been rustled were found in the possession of the suspects, who were unable to give satisfactory explanations as to ownership of the animals.
The commissioner added that investigations linked the suspects to the earlier arrested kingpin, Ibrahim Abubakar, identified as the gang leader coordinating the rustling operations.
He said all suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, warning criminal elements that Ekiti State would remain hostile to cattle rustling and other organised crimes.
