Police nab notorious cattle rustler in Gwagwalada

A man, who called himself an international castle rustler, was arrested by the police area command at Gwagwalada last Wednesday.

Parading the suspect at the command’s headquarters last Thursday, the Gwagwalada Area Commander, Abaniwonder Olufemi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said the arrest was as a result of a joint operation among his division, Zuba division and a Fulani vigilante group. 

He said more than 40 cattle were recovered when the owners informed him and they started investigations.
“The criminal gang is usually in a bush they call Ruga, which is a Fulani settlement. They also have local collaborators. They were on transit when they were all picked up in Gwagwalada. Their ring leader is a notorious international rustler, who has been on the wanted list,” Olufemi said. 

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Intelligence Department, Agyole Abeh, told journalists that the gang leader has been a notorious rustler, who knows all the workings of other rustlers.

“He confessed that no police command has ever arrested him, except that of the FCT. He added that if given a second chance, he would show the police the “big men’’ who are also into rustling,” Abeh said.

Earlier, the FCT Police Commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu, in a meeting with herdsmen, advised them not to engage in any criminal activities with rustlers, but to always report them to nearby police station.

Responding on behalf of the herdsmen, Alhaji Idris Galadima, revealed that they usually have problems with castle rustlers at Pai, Kundu, Yangoje, Tudun Fulani, Kungo and Kuje, where herdsmen were being attacked, killed and injured by the rustlers.