The Gombe State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on the theft of domestic animals and cattle rustling across the state, arresting four suspects and recovering a large number of stolen livestock in coordinated operations carried out on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said the arrests followed actionable intelligence and close collaboration between the police, local vigilante groups, and hunters.
According to the statement, the first arrest was made at about 12:30 p.m. when police operatives, working with a vigilante group known as Kungiyan Fulako, arrested a 17-year-old suspect, Adamu Lawali, at Dasa Village via Jagali North in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
“The suspect was found in possession of 49 goats reasonably suspected to be stolen. Sixteen of the goats were immediately identified by their rightful owner at the point of arrest, while two other suspects managed to escape,” the police said.
DSP Abdullahi added that the suspect and the remaining exhibits are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
In a similar operation later the same day at about 8:45 p.m., police officers and local hunters arrested a 16-year-old suspect, Abdu Habu, at Ruwan Gizo Village via Jigawan Iro. Another suspect identified as Bode is currently at large.
“The suspect was found with 115 sheep and one donkey suspected to be stolen. Subsequent identification confirmed that 23 of the sheep belonged to victims from Garin Bako Village in Kaltungo Local Government Area,” the statement said.
The police further disclosed that at about 2:00 p.m. on the same day, detectives from the Command Monitoring Unit intercepted a 22-year-old suspect, Amir Sulaiman, popularly known as Al’amin, at the Gombe Cattle Market.
“He was found in possession of two cows suspected to be stolen and could not give a satisfactory account of ownership. During interrogation, he confessed that he received the animals from his accomplice, identified as Joda, who is currently at large,” DSP Abdullahi stated.
Efforts are ongoing to trace the rightful owner of the cows and arrest the fleeing accomplice, he added.
In another development, at about 10:30 p.m., a 13-year-old suspect, Shuaibu Adamu, was arrested by hunters and handed over to the Dadin-Kowa Divisional Police Headquarters after being found in possession of 159 sheep and five goats at Garin Shanu Village via Jigawan Iro, Yamaltu-Deba LGA.
“Thirty of the recovered sheep were later identified by a 60-year-old victim from Garin Waziri Village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area,” the police said.
Commending the role of local security groups, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Chuso, praised the vigilance and cooperation of vigilante groups and hunters across the state.
“The Command remains fully committed to tackling cattle rustling and all forms of criminality in Gombe State. We commend the support of local vigilantes and hunters, whose timely information has continued to yield positive results,” Chuso said.
He urged members of the public to sustain their cooperation with the police by providing credible and timely information, assuring that all suspects would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The police will not relent in protecting lives and property. Further developments will be communicated as investigations progress,” the Commissioner added.
