Niger State Says Efforts To End Cattle Rustling Yielding Results

The Niger State government says efforts of a committee mandated to curb the menace of cattle rustlers and other related Crimes in the state tagged “Operation Sharan Daji” have started yielding results.

The Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, who set up the committee led by the Secretary to State Government SSG, Mr Shehu Umar Danyaya, said that the committee had contributed tremendously to the identification, recovery and arrests made.

After setting up the committee, the Governor mandated them to provide all the logistics to effect adequate operations by the military task force in conjunction with other security agents to bring the situation under control.

He said that the work of the committee had reduced maximally the issue of cattle rustling in Niger State, as every intelligent information received by the state government was immediately put to use to consistently provide security logistics for quick action.

So far, according to records made available to Channels Television in Minna, the state’s capital, this week a total of 118 stolen cows, 23 sheep were recovered from the cattle rustlers just as five of the suspected criminals, who were all Fulanis, were arrested with sophisticated weapons.

The recovery were in different operations of Lapai – Gulu axis of Lapai Local Government, Shamu Yambu village in Rafi Local Government respectively.

The Operation Sharan Daji Military Task Force presently operating in most of the hot spots in the state has continued to record successful progress in the last three months in Niger State, with a delegation constantly dispatched to various local governments to verify and authenticate the claims of military task force.

The achievements of the team comprising Military personnel from 31 Artillery Brigade, Nigeria Army, Minna, Police Officers, Civil Defence personnel and Vigilante Group led by the military according to record include; working harmoniously with counterpart security in the neighbouring states of Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory for its successful operations.

Other achievements were the operations successfully carried out in Zumba, Shiroro, Bassa, Tegina, Lapai – Lambata, Zungeru, Kateregi and Lavun operations where many suspects were apprehended and recovery of cattle and weapons from the suspected criminals in the state.

The task force have commended the support of the state government for its provision of logistics and cooperation to the team and the Miyetti Allah Group, Community leaders and other stakeholders in fighting the menace of cattle rustlers in the state.