Police arrest 13 cattle rustlers, recover 27 stolen cows in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested 13 suspected cattle rustlers and recovered 27 stolen cows along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the suspects were intercepted on Sunday, August 17, 2025, following credible intelligence received by the Divisional Police Officer of Toll Gate Division.
According to Hassan, the DPO swiftly mobilised his team and mounted a stop-and-search checkpoint along the highway, which has in recent years been plagued by banditry, kidnappings, and cattle rustling.
“On August 17, 2025, at about 1200hrs, the DPO Toll Gate received credible intelligence that rustled cattle were being transported in three vehicles along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway. Officers immediately set up a snap checkpoint, intercepted the vehicles, and recovered a total of 27 cattle,” the statement read.
The arrested suspects were identified as Lawal Sarki, Sule VIO, Ayuba Mohammed, Mohammed Bashir, Abu Mai Chaji, Abdullateef Lateef, Shamsudden Abdullahi, Jonathan Ishaya, and Yakubu Alhassan. Four others — Alhaji Abu, Shamsudeen Abdullahi, Lawal Abdullahi, and Abba Hamisu — were also picked up in connection with the syndicate.
Hassan further revealed that during interrogation, one of the suspects confessed to receiving stolen cows from a notorious bandit kingpin known as Lagu, who has been terrorising parts of southern Kaduna and the Kaduna-Abuja corridor.
The suspect also admitted to receiving at least 50 stolen cows from another accomplice, Abdullahi of Rijana, who is currently on the run.
The police said investigations are ongoing to dismantle the network and apprehend all fleeing accomplices.
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Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling cattle rustling, kidnapping, and other crimes in the state.
“This successful operation demonstrates our resolve to disrupt criminal supply chains and restore peace in affected communities. We urge residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies, as security is a collective responsibility,” Muhammad said.