The Oyo State Police Command, on Thursday, said it recovered 26 stolen cows valued at ₦6.25m and arrested two suspected cattle rustlers, Abu Muhammed and Aliu Bello, at Iresaadu in Surulere Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday.
Ayanlade said the suspects were apprehended following a swift response to a report received at the Iresaadu Division of the command.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were attempting to conceal the stolen cattle when they were intercepted at Odojaye via Aganyan, Iresaadu, in Surulere Local Government Area.
According to him, investigations are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang and recover the remaining stolen livestock.
“The operation underscores the effectiveness of proactive policing, intelligence-led investigations, and collaboration with community security agencies in tackling criminal activities,” Ayanlade said.
He added that the recovery of the cattle reflected the impact of coordinated efforts between the police and community stakeholders in protecting lives and property.
The police spokesman said the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the crime and provided useful information on the criminal network.
The command commended members of the public for the timely information that led to the arrests, as well as the support of other partners, particularly non-state actors.
It also urged residents to continue providing credible information to aid investigations and enhance community safety.
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