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

The Kaduna State Police Command said on Tuesday that its operatives arrested 13 suspected cattle rustlers and recovered 27 cows stolen along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, who disclosed this in a statement, explained that the suspects were intercepted following credible intelligence received by the Divisional Police Officer, Toll Gate Division, on Sunday, August 17, 2025.

According to him, the DPO immediately mobilised his men to mount a stop-and-search checkpoint along the busy highway, which has in recent years become notorious for banditry, kidnappings and cattle rustling.

Hassan said, “On 17th August, 2025, at about 1200hrs, the DPO Toll Gate received credible intelligence that some suspected rustled cattle were being transported in three separate vehicles along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.

The DPO immediately mobilised officers and men of the division and mounted a snap stop-and-search checkpoint along the route. Eventually, three vehicles were intercepted and a total of twenty-seven (27) cattle recovered.”

The police spokesman gave the names of the suspects arrested as: Lawal Sarki, Sule VIO, Ayuba Mohammed, Mohammed Bashir, Abu Mai Chaji, Abdullateef Lateef, Shamsudden Abdullahi, Jonathan Ishaya and Yakubu Alhassan.

He added that four other suspects, identified as Alhaji Abu, Shamsudeen Abdullahi, Lawal Abdullahi and Abba Hamisu, were also picked up in connection with the rustling syndicate.

Hassan revealed that during interrogation, one of the suspects confessed to receiving stolen cows from a dreaded bandit kingpin known as Lagu, who has been terrorising parts of southern Kaduna and the Kaduna-Abuja axis.

He said, “Upon further interrogation, one of the suspects confessed to have been receiving rustled cows from a notorious bandit popularly known as Lagu, who is amongst the wanted bandits terrorising the area.

“He also admitted to receiving at least 50 rustled cows from one Abdullahi of Rijana, who is currently on the run.”

The police spokesman said investigations had been intensified to dismantle the entire criminal network, apprehend fleeing accomplices, and bring them before the law.

The state Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, vowed that the Command would not relent in its ongoing war against cattle rustlers, kidnappers and other criminal gangs threatening the safety of residents.
He said the successful operation showed that the police remained determined to disrupt criminal supply chains and restore peace to troubled communities.

Muhammad, who commended his men for the feat, urged residents of the state to continue volunteering credible information to security agencies.

“The Command will not relent in its efforts to safeguard lives and property in the State.

“We will continue to intensify operations and pursue every lead until those behind these criminal activities are brought to justice.

“We also call on members of the public to continue to support the police with useful information that can help us in curbing these crimes. Security is a collective responsibility, the statement concluded.