Police foil cattle rustling attempts, recover 245 livestock in Kaduna
Kaduna Police Recover 245 Stolen Cattle in Coordinated Operations
KADUNA, Nigeria — In a series of operations on May 31, 2026, the Kaduna State Police Command reported the recovery of 245 stolen cattle following the interception of two cattle rustling and kidnapping attempts in the Igabi and Kudan local government areas.
Police personnel, local vigilantes, and community members collaborated to track the suspects while alerting surrounding neighborhoods and applying pressure on the alleged bandits.
According to a statement from Police Public Relations Officer DSP Mansir Hassan, the incidents began early Sunday morning when armed individuals invaded a Fulani settlement near Rubu Village in Igabi LGA. They tied up three cattle rearers and several guards before fleeing with a significant number of cattle.
The chairman of Miyetti Allah in Igabi LGA reported the incident, prompting the Divisional Police Officer of the Rigachikun Division to organize a rescue operation.
“Unable to withstand the pursuit, the bandits abandoned the stolen cattle and their captives and fled into the bush. More than 200 cattle were recovered unharmed, while efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects remain ongoing,” the statement indicated.
In a related operation, an additional 45 cattle were recovered in Hunkuyi after reports of cattle rustling led the local DPO to initiate an investigation. This effort yielded credible intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the stolen cattle, which were hidden in a bush along the Zaria-Kano Expressway.
A combined team of police operatives and members of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service was dispatched to the area. Upon sighting the team, the armed bandits opened fire, but police operatives successfully returned fire, forcing the attackers to retreat, leaving behind all 45 cattle.
Hassan emphasized that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the suspects and dismantle the network behind these attacks.
State Commissioner of Police Rabiu Muhammad praised the collaboration among the police, Miyetti Allah vigilantes, the Civilian Joint Task Force, the Kaduna State Vigilance Service, and local residents. He described the successful operations as evidence of effective, intelligence-driven, and community-based policing.
Muhammad urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to bolster ongoing efforts against criminal activities statewide. He reaffirmed the police command’s commitment to safeguarding lives, property, and livestock across Kaduna State.
Cattle rustling and banditry remain significant issues in Kaduna, particularly in the North-West region. These crimes have disrupted agricultural and livestock activities, displacing thousands of residents from rural areas for years. The state government and security agencies have frequently launched joint operations to target criminal activity in hotspot local government areas, including Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun, Kachia, Kajuru, and parts of the Kaduna-Abuja and Kaduna-Kano corridors.
