Police foil cattle rustling attempt, arrest suspect in Katsina

Police operatives have arrested a suspected cattle rustler and recovered 50 animals after foiling an attempt to rustle livestock in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Katsina State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, on Sunday.

Aliyu said the incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. on September 12, following a distress call that suspected armed bandits had invaded Kwarara village in Jibia and rustled livestock.

He said the DPO of Jibia immediately mobilised the Police VCRU Patrol Team and personnel of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps to respond to the incident.

According to him, the security team traced the suspects and intercepted them at the Jibia Dam Site, where a gun duel ensued.

He said the suspects were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the security personnel and abandoned the rustled animals before fleeing with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.

Aliyu said the security team searched the area and arrested a 22-year-old suspected cattle rustler.

He added that the recovered animals comprised 15 cows and 35 sheep.

The suspect is currently in police custody and assisting investigators with useful information.