Security operatives in Kaduna State have arrested 13 suspected cattle rustlers and recovered 27 cows along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.The spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, in a statement, said the suspects were intercepted on Sunday, August 17, at about 12:00 p.m., following credible intelligence received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Toll Gate Division.

According to him, the DPO swiftly mobilised officers and mounted a snap checkpoint on the highway, where three vehicles conveying rustled cattle were intercepted.

Those arrested were identified as Lawal Sarki, Sule VIO, Ayuba Mohammed, Mohammed Bashir, Abu Mai Chaji, Abdullateef Lateef, Shamsudden Abdullahi, Jonathan Ishaya, Yakubu Alhassan, Alhaji Abu, Lawal Abdullahi, Shamsudeen Abdullahi, and Abba Hamisu.

Hassan said one of the suspects confessed to receiving cattle from a notorious bandit known as Lagu, who has long been on the police wanted list, and another accomplice, Abdullahi of Rijana, who is also on the run.

He added that investigations into the cattle rustling syndicate were ongoing and that efforts were being intensified to track down other accomplices.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, assured residents that the Command remained committed to safeguarding lives and property in the state. He urged the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and useful information to aid operations.