The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested three individuals in connection with the alleged theft of 48 goats in the Babura and Kiyawa Local Government Areas.
Mr. Ahmadu Abdullahi, the Commissioner of Police (CP), told reporters in Dutse on Thursday that the arrests were made in separate operations conducted between Monday and Tuesday.
Two of the suspects, Abdullahi Usman, 20, and Hassan Ado, 22, are alleged to have conspired with one Tasiu Umar, who is currently at large, to steal 26 goats valued at N1.3 million.
The theft was reported to the Babura police station by Hassan Ibrahim of Abari village in Niger Republic on Jan. 22. Following the report, the police swiftly acted, resulting in the apprehension of Usman and Ado and the recovery of eight goats.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the theft of the 26 goats and disclosed that 18 of them were sold to Abdullahi Amadu of Kunyafa village and one Mustapha of Madangana village, both of whom are still at large, for N210,000.
The third suspect, identified as Ado Buba, 25, a resident of Dundubus village in Dutse, was apprehended with 22 goats suspected to be stolen.
A police patrol team from the Kiyawa police division encountered Buba on Jan. 23 and, upon interrogation, Buba confessed to having stolen the goats from Andaza village in Kiyawa.
Subsequently, the owner of the goats, Adamu Maina from Andaza village, was located and he identified the goats as his. The CP stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon the completion of the investigation.
The police action demonstrates the commitment of the Jigawa State Police Command to combat theft and other criminal activities in the state.