(Abba Kabir Yusuf. Photo Credit: Kano State Government)
A 28-year-old man has been taken into custody by Yobe State Police Command, which has also found 19 animals that may have been stolen from Bursari Local Government Area.
The suspect was apprehended by Garin Alkali Divisional Police Headquarters agents last Thursday while acting on reliable intelligence, according to a statement released by Police Public Relations Officer SP Dungus Abdulkarim.
According to the statement, the suspect, identified as Umar Sanda of Lafiya Fulani Settlement, via Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, was intercepted on the outskirts of Dumburi Village, Masaba Ward, Bursari LGA, in possession of livestock under circumstances suggesting the animals had been stolen.
The command said that during preliminary interrogation, the suspect claimed the cattle belonged to his brother, who resides at the same address.
However, police said he could not provide satisfactory details to establish ownership or lawful possession of the animals.
Consequently, the suspect was taken into custody, while the nineteen cattle were secured as a comprehensive investigation commenced to determine the true ownership of the livestock and establish whether the offence of c@ttle rustling or any related crime had been committed.
It was on this basis that the Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to combating c@ttle rustling and all forms of criminality in the state.
He urged livestock owners and members of the public to support the police by providing timely and credible information to aid the prevention and detection of crime.