72 suspected cattle rustlers in the notorious Falgore forest in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State have been arrested by the Police.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammad Katsina, disclosed this while presenting the suspects and the animals to newsmen at Kwanar Dawaki in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.
The suspects were presented in the presence of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Katsina 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 also killed three of the suspects, including one Umaru Dogo Ndaiye, a Senegalese national, who led a gang of bandits that maimed, raped and ransacked the entire Gidan Kare village in Sumaila Local Government Area of the state.
Katsina said: “Ndaiye was gunned down when he engaged our men in a gun battle who 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.”
The police commissioner said two other bandits also lost their lives during exchange of fire with the police, while only one policeman sustained injury and had since been treated and discharged.
In his remarks, Ganduje said the state government had set up a committee to return the cattle to their genuine and rightful owners.
He expressed concern over the rising cases of cattle rustling in the state in recent times.
Ganduje called on the people of the state, particularly those of Tudun Wada, Doguwa and Sumaila local government areas that shared borders with the Falgore forest, to cooperate with security agents with a view to checking the menace.
Also in his remarks, the Emir urged courts in the state ensure that those found guilty were appropriately prosecuted.