The Gombe State Police Command has arrested four suspects and recovered a large number of stolen domestic animals as part of ongoing efforts to curb cattle rustling and livestock theft across the state.
The arrests followed a series of intelligence-driven operations carried out by police officers in collaboration with local vigilante groups and hunters in various communities.
On January 8 at about 12:30 p.m., police officers working alongside members of the vigilante group, Kungiyan Fulako, arrested a 17-year-old suspect, Adamu Lawali, at Dasa Village in Jagali North, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area. He was found in possession of 49 goats suspected to be stolen, while two other suspects fled the scene. Sixteen of the animals were immediately identified by their rightful owner. The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
Later that day, at about 8:45 p.m., police and local hunters, acting on credible intelligence, 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 in possession of 115 sheep and one donkey believed to have been stolen. Further investigation confirmed that 23 of the sheep belonged to a victim and four other residents of Garin Bako Village in Kaltungo Local Government Area.
In a separate operation at about 2:00 p.m. on the same day, detectives from the Command Monitoring Unit intercepted a 22-year-old suspect, Amir Sulaiman, also known as Al’amin, at the Gombe Cattle Market. He was found with two cows suspected to be stolen.
Police said the suspect could not provide a satisfactory explanation of ownership and later confessed that he received the animals from an accomplice, identified as Joda, who remains at large.
Similarly, at about 10:30 p.m., a 13-year-old suspect, Shuaibu Adamu, was arrested by hunters and brought to the Dadin-Kowa Divisional Police Headquarters from Garin Shanu Village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area. He was found in possession of 159 sheep and five goats.
Another suspect, identified as Rabo, is still at large. Thirty of the recovered sheep were later identified by a 60-year-old victim from Garin Waziri Village in the same local government area.
All the suspects and recovered animals are currently in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to identify additional victims and apprehend fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Umar Ahmed Chuso, commended the vigilance and cooperation of local vigilante groups and hunters, noting that their support was crucial to the success of the operations. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the state and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the police.