Two suspected cattle rustlers are now being detained by the police in Ekiti State for stealing five cows in Ifaki Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
This came barely six days after the government met with the members of the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Ekiti and the southwest over the passage of the State anti-grazing law, which prohibited open rearing of cattle in the state.
Explaining how the rustlers were arrested, the Commander of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Mr Akin Olorunloni, said the culprits were apprehended along Ifaki-Iworoko road on Tuesday at about 3.30 am.
Olorunloni said the culprits numbering seven came in a white Hummer bus and that they were on their way to Iworoko Ekiti when his men got notice of their suspected moves and gave them a hot chase.
He said the rustlers upon realizing that they were being trailed fled into the bush in different directions, where two were arrested and taken to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ado Ekiti police headquarters.
Olorunloni disclosed that the driver of the bus succeeded in escaping the scene with the stolen cows and was now being trailed by the police and other security outfits in the state.
“They stole the cows in Ifaki Ekiti here at a grazing site and moved towards Ado Ekiti. My men who were on night patrol suspected the move and gave them a hot chase.
“Though we could not arrest all of them but those apprehended confessed that they were in the town to steal those cattle. As law abiding organisation, we immediately took them to SARS operatives in the state capital where they are being detained.
“They confessed to us that five cows were in the bus and the police have taken up the matter”, he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr Alberto Adeyemi confirmed the arrest, saying the two were helping the police in their investigations.
Adeyemi said: “Yes, they were arrested and brought here by our men after committing the crime. The suspects said two of those that had fled were from Edo State and others were from Ekiti.
“The suspects are cooperating and they are giving us useful information on how to arrest those that had escaped as soon as possible”.
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