By Bashir Mohammed
Kano
Kano state police command has arrested 72 suspected cattle rustlers in the notorious Falgore Forest in Tudun wada local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Muhammad Katsina disclosed this while parading the suspects and the animals before newsmen at Kwanar Dawaki in Dawakin Kudu local government area of the state yesterday.
The suspects were paraded in the presence of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
He said the police had also recovered 818 cattle in addition to large cache of arms, fake military and police uniforms as well as charms used by the suspects.
According to him, the police was also able to kill three of the suspects including one Umaru Dogo Ndaiye, a Senegalese who led a gang of bandits that maimed, raped and ransacked entire Gidan Kare village in Sumaila local government area.
He said: “Ndaiye was gunned down when he engaged our men in a gun battle that were on special duty at Falgore Forest by Gazobi village. He later gave up while receiving treatment at the hospital. A revolver pistol and 224 rustled cattle were recovered from him while four other members of his gang were arrested.”
Katsina said two other bandits also lost their lives during the exchange of fire with the police while only one policeman sustained injury and had since been treated and discharged.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said the state government had set up a committee to return the cattle to their genuine and rightful owners.
He called on people of the state, particularly people of Tudun Wada, Doguwa and Sumaila local governments, who shared borders with the forest, to cooperate with security agents with a view to checking the menace.
Also, in his remarks, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, urged courts in the state ensure that those found guilty were appropriately sanctioned.