Police Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers, Recover 11 Cows In Jigawa

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a cattle-rustling syndicate allegedly operating across Jigawa and Kano States.

The command also recovered 11 rustled cows in two separate operations following distress calls and intelligence-led investigations targeting criminal networks involved in livestock theft.

This was contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, on Saturday, September 19.

According to the statement, the first operation followed a distress call received by the Roni Police Division on September 15, 2026, after suspected cattle rustlers allegedly attacked a herder at Shema Forest near Dabi Village in Roni Local Government Area.

The suspects allegedly tied the herder’s neck and legs with a rope before making away with 10 cows valued at about N10.5 million.

Police operatives immediately mobilised to the area and launched a coordinated pursuit, leading to the recovery of all 10 cattle.

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The suspects, however, escaped through the surrounding forest before they could be apprehended.

In a related development, police operatives in Garki Local Government Area recovered another rustled bull on August 31 after it was found tied under a neem tree along the Garki Bypass on the Gumel-Kano Road.

The command said preliminary investigation revealed that the bull was among three cattle allegedly rustled from the residence of one Alhaji Jamilu Naladan.

Acting on intelligence gathered during the investigation, police operatives launched a discreet operation that led to the arrest of three suspects from Jigawa and Kano States.

The suspects were identified as Jamilu Sa’idu of Kwanar Jaba Quarters, Kano State; Alasan Ya’u; and Yusha’u Musa, both of Kudi Village in Garki Local Government Area.

The police said the suspects were currently assisting with investigations, while preliminary findings indicated that they were allegedly part of a “specialized cattle-rustling network operating across the Jigawa–Kano axis.”

The Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Command, CP Tijjani Murtala, commended the officers and personnel involved in the operations for their prompt response, professionalism and determination to protect the lives and property of residents.

Murtala reiterated the command’s commitment to “sustaining intelligence-led operations, strategic patrols, inter-agency collaboration, and community engagement” to dismantle criminal networks involved in cattle rustling, armed robbery, motorcycle snatching and other forms of rural criminality.

The Commissioner also assured residents that the command would continue its efforts to tackle rural criminality across the state.

The statement said the investigation was ongoing, with “concerted efforts” being made to apprehend other fleeing members of the alleged syndicate and recover any additional stolen livestock.