Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a major livestock rustling network in Sokoto State, arresting three suspects and recovering 46 cows alongside a cache of weapons in a series of coordinated intelligence-led operations. The crackdown, announced on Monday, May 4, 2026, marks the latest blow against rampant banditry in the North-West, where the theft of livestock has fuelled a violent cycle of economic sabotage and terrorism. According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Rufa’i, the operations were carried out between April 29 and May 3 across several local government areas, including Tangaza, Gidan Madi, Wamakko, and Silame.
The breakthrough came on April 29, when operatives attached to the Gidan Madi Police Station acted on intelligence about suspicious persons sighted on the outskirts of Tangaza town. Intensified patrols and stop-and-search operations along the Tangaza–Gidan Madi Road led to the arrest of three men identified as Aliyu Bello, 30; Dahiru Umar, 25; and Bashar Isah Yusuf, 29, all residents of Kwazari village in Kware Local Government Area. Items recovered from the suspects included a fabricated AK-47 rifle, one magazine loaded with 17 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, two dane guns, two 32g cartridges, and six charms.
The police also revealed that the suspects are linked to a criminal network imposing illegal levies on farmers, with investigations ongoing into their wider connections. The suspects remain in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of inquiries.
In a separate anti-rustling mission on May 3, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit foiled an attack in Gidan Bubu village, Wamakko Local Government Area, after armed bandits invaded the community and fired sporadically. The suspected Lakurawa bandits were met with a fierce gun battle. Though the attackers managed to flee with injuries into the Gidan Gawe Forest in Silame Local Government Area, they were forced to abandon 19 cows. Additionally, on April 30, officers responded to a distress call from community guards in Tangaza about the movement of suspected Lakurawa terrorists. The hoodlums, upon sighting security operatives, fled into the bush, abandoning 27 cattle near Zamoriya village.
The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, praised the officers for their bravery and reaffirmed the command’s resolve to tackle insecurity. He acknowledged the critical role of community-police collaboration in achieving these breakthroughs, noting that the aggressive pursuit of non-state actors was finally paying dividends. CP Shaffa also ordered that the recovered livestock be identified and handed back to their legitimate owners following veterinary screening. He has tasked Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in the frontier local government areas of Tangaza, Gidan Madi, Silame, Wamakko, and Kware to dominate the public space with patrols and stop-and-search operations.
The security situation in the North-West has remained volatile, with terrorists and bandits frequently targeting farmers and pastoralists for revenue generation. Just days earlier, on May 1, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA also foiled an attempt by suspected Lakurawa bandits in Silame LGA, recovering 27 rustled animals after a fierce gun battle that forced the criminals toward the Niger Republic border.
Analysts say the interdiction of this smuggling route is a major victory, but warn that the cycle of violence will not end unless the political will for disarmament is sustained. The police have assured residents that efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing suspects and reunite any remaining recovered cattle with their owners.
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