Our Reporter
FIVE persons have been arrested by police in Ogun State on suspicion of stealing animals, it is gathered.
Commissioner of Police Kenneth Ebrimson paraded the suspects, describing them as some of the most notorious armed robbers and rustlers across Ondo and Ekiti states.
The police chief said the suspects had been troubling residents of those states and stealing their cows and goats.
It was gathered that the suspected rustlers ran out of luck when they were tracked and apprehended “in a deadly operation” by the IGP Special Tactical Squad in the state led by DSP Toyin Omosebi.
A two-man gang reportedly comprising Mohammed Bello, 34, from Kebbi State and Ibrahim Bello, 37, from Niger State, are notorious cattle rustlers whose activities are a source of concern to cattle herders in the state.
Fielding questions from journalists, Ibrahim, who claimed to be a driver, said most of the cows were stolen in the night when the owners were sleep.
He said the operations are clinically carried out without the owners ever knowing.
Ibrahim reportedly said the only weapons used in their operations were a rope and a stick.
They carefully threw the rope around the neck of the cow and dragged it out of the herd through the bush before getting it on a waiting vehicle to the place where it would be sold.
The suspect said there is a popular socialite in Ore who buys the cattle from them.
Ibrahim denied ever killing anyone in the course of their operations spanning over two years.
Three other persons were also paraded comprising Adewale Rafis, 49, Ojo Oladunjoye, 35, and Ajibola Aliu, 65.
Adewale and Oladunjoye were said to specialise in large-scale goat-theft, stealing as many as 25 goats per day, a development said to have impoverished many goat owners.
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Adewale said they work for the same Ore socialite who sponsors their operations with logistics, money and buying the stolen animals.
He said that most of the goats were stolen from Ondo towns and sometimes from Ekiti.
Adewale said the unnamed socialite sponsor is well-connected in Ondo State with established businesses in Ore town including hotels and petrol stations.
Ojo, who is also said to steal goats, is alleged to team up with 65-year- old Ajibola Aliu, who robs parked, broken-down or refuelling haulage vehicles at obscure petrol stations.
DSP Toyin Omosebi said the suspects will be charged to court after investigations.
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