Police recover 245 rustled cattle, foil kidnap attempts in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has foiled two separate cattle rustling and kidnapping attempts in Igabi and Kudan Local Government Areas of the state, recovering a total of 245 stolen cattle.

The command said the operations were carried out on May 31 following coordinated interventions by police operatives, local vigilantes and community members.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, bandits in the early hours of Sunday invaded a Fulani settlement on the outskirts of Rubu Village in Igabi LGA, where they tied up three cattle rearers and several guards before making away with a large number of cattle.

Hassan said the incident was reported by the Chairman of Miyetti Allah in Igabi LGA, prompting the Divisional Police Officer of Rigachikun Division to mobilise police operatives alongside Miyetti Allah vigilantes and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force for a rescue operation.

“The joint team trailed the suspects while alerting neighbouring communities and mounting intense pressure on the bandits.

“Unable to withstand the pursuit, the bandits abandoned the stolen cattle and their captives and fled into the bush. Over 200 cattle were recovered unharmed, while efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” the statement said.

In a related development, the police said 45 additional cattle were recovered during another operation in Hunkuyi.

The command disclosed that following a report of cattle rustling, the DPO of Hunkuyi Division launched an investigation and surveillance operation which led to credible intelligence indicating that the stolen cattle had been hidden in a bush at Hawan Mai Mashi along the Zaria–Kano Expressway.

According to the statement, a combined team of police operatives and personnel of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service was deployed to the area.

“On sighting the team, the armed bandits opened fire. The operatives responded with superior firepower, forcing the bandits to flee with suspected gunshot injuries and abandon all 45 cattle,” Hassan stated.

The police spokesman added that investigations were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal network behind the attacks.

He quoted the State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, to have commended the collaboration between the police, Miyetti Allah vigilantes, the Civilian Joint Task Force, the Kaduna State Vigilance Service and community members, describing the successful operations as evidence of the effectiveness of intelligence-driven and community-based policing.

Muhammad urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to aid ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities across the state.

He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives, property and livestock throughout Kaduna State.

Kaduna is among the North-West states most affected by cattle rustling, banditry and kidnapping, crimes that have disrupted farming and livestock activities and displaced thousands of residents from rural communities over the years.

The state government and security agencies have repeatedly launched joint security operations targeting criminal hideouts in flashpoint local government areas, including Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, Kachia, Kajuru and parts of the Kaduna-Abuja and Kaduna-Kano corridors.

In recent months, security forces have reported several breakthroughs, including the rescue of kidnapped victims, neutralisation of suspected bandits, recovery of rustled livestock and the arrest of informants and logistics suppliers linked to criminal gangs operating within and around the state.

Authorities have, however, maintained that intelligence gathering and sustained community support remain critical to ending cattle rustling and kidnapping, which continue to pose security and economic challenges across many rural communities in Kaduna and neighbouring states.