Katsina govt. recovers 30,000 stolen cattle from rustlers

.Identifies traditional rulers, politicians, security agents as collaborators

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The Katsina State Government says it has recovered over 30,000 stolen cattle from rustlers and arrested over 117 suspected criminals so far, lamenting the active connivance of politicians, traditional rulers and security agents with the criminal elements.

Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, who made the disclosure during a recent town hall meeting with the natives of Katsina State resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said that the state, under the siege of armed robbers and cross border banditry, was inhabitable before the current government took over.

Presenting a graphic detail of Katsina’s scorecard on security, the SGS said: “There were basically four major challenges when this government came into power and prominent among them were the cattle rustling, banditry, which later metamorphosed into kidnapping especially across the eight LGA bordering the Rugu forest reserve. However, the impacts were felt in other neighbouring LGA across the state.

“We also have the challenges of armed robbery especially along the major routes leading to Katsina. These roads were very unsafe that people rush to get to their destinations early evening. We also have the problem of drug abuse in the major cities. Youths on drug harass, intimidate and some cases kill people with arms anytime during the day or at night.

“There were times some communities are under siege by these armed youths. In fact, the last administration even imposed a dusk to dawn curfew. Drug abuse is related with others. It is very sad to note that Katsina has the largest route where the largest consignment of these drugs gets into Nigeria, according to the NDLEA record. At a time, the consumers constitute the highest percentage.

“As for the cattle rustlers and the Fulanis have problem with the farmers, people were killed. Between 2009 and 2015, close to 4000 lives were lost. There was a day when 142 lives were lost which coincided with the day that the former president visited.

“In some communities, people were slaughtered on daily basis and taken to the house of the village heads. Businesses and markets stopped, grounding activities in the state. The youths even turned to kidnappers.

“During electioneering campaign, the governor promised the people that he would surely bring the menace to an end. On assumption of office, he set up security committees and joint security patrol units, numbering up to 11.

“In between July 2015 to June 2016, we were able to arrest about 117 of such suspected criminals. We also recovered over 30,000 stolen cattle from the criminals. About 24,000 were returned to the owners after series of screening to establish their claims. About 84 motorcycles were equally recovered among so many other things.

“We encountered challenges, especially on the issue of cattle rustling and drug abuse, when we realised the connivance of some highly placed persons in the society. Unfortunately, since some are beneficiaries of the situation, they participate, aid and abate them.

“We noticed active connivance with the politicians, traditional rulers and security agents because of what they benefit. However, by the time some of them realised that the government are serious; they had to back out especially after arresting, interrogating and prosecuting some of them. Some of them buy the cows from rustlers at ridiculous prices of as low as N30,000 for a cow selling at N150,000,” he noted.

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