By Suleman Tudu
The Zamfara state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended 24 cows and a sheep suspected to be rustled from Tsafe local government area of the state.
Briefing newsmen today (Monday) in Gusau, the spokesperson of the command, SC Ikor Oche says, the apprehension was part of the ongoing efforts by the command under the leadership of its Commandant Sani Mustapha to get rid of cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the state.
“On 31st December, 2023, some group of persons were seen with trucks loaded with cows in Canter (trucks) from Tsafe area to Damba of which we suspected that their mission was to evacuate those cows to Gusau metropolis.
“Upon getting to Damba, they diverted these cows to a corner on a road leading to the Dam in Damba where they decided to offload the cows.
“In the process, the Corps got intelligence information through the divisional head of Damba division of the NSCDC and the needful was done. We traced the persons and upon sighting our men, they decided to take to their heels. They can’t even wait for us to interview them to know whether the cows were actually rustled or genuine—they took to their heels. Meaning, they were not genuine.
“That is why we apprehended the cows and the trucks that carried these cows numbering 24 and one sheep,” Mr Ikor explained.
He added that the effort was part of the command’s commitments to support the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal to curtail the rate of insecurity in the state.
“It is no longer news that His Excellency Dr Lawal Dauda has banned some cattle markets in Zamfara state in his bid to fight insecurity to a standstill in Zamfara.
“The essence of banning these cattle markets is to discourage rustling and at the same time ensure that illicit cow trade no longer exists in Zamfara state,” the Corps spokesman added.
While warning those who are hellbent and truncating the order to desist, Mr Ikor says the command will not rest on its oars in doing the needful and giving full support to the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal to ensure that Zamfara is free from all forms of security challenges.
The apprehended cows have been handed over to Zamfara State Ministry for Security and Home Affairs to take the next line of action while the two, yet-to-be-claimed vehicles intercepted with the plate numbers TSF 329 SA and AG 160 BWR are under the custody of the command.
