Operation Crush arrest three cattle rustlers in Abia
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The operatives of the Inter Agency Security Organization known as Operation Crush detailed to fight insecurity in Abia State has arrested three suspected cattle rustlers in Ohiya Umuahia South Local Government Area in the state.
The Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Security NvCrmd. Macdonald Uba (RTD) who paraded the suspects in the Government on Monday said they were arrested
following a tip off from members of the state farmers/herders committee.
He added that the suspected
cattle rustlers were of Hausa/Fulani community.
He said, “We recall that we have been inundated with reports of Fulani herdsmen involving in kidnapping and collecting ransom from their victims in most parts of the state especially in Umunneochi Local Government Area.
“We are not unmindful of herders/farmers clashes in Benue State. These rustlers were caught trying to sale the cattle they had already rustled from their owners to waiting buyers.
“The import of their action would meant disaster for the indigene of the Ohiya community if not for swift action of operation crush men.
“As we all know we have a strong farmers/herders community who got the tip off and reported to operation crush which led to this arrest and we have forwarded the report to the director of the Department of State Services
“If they had succeed it would occasion a reprisal attack on the host community. We have carried out a premininary investigation and we have been handing them over to the police for further investation and possibly arrest the suspected buyers.
“This is to state that Abia State under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti will not yield any inch of its territory to criminals”.
The leader of the Hausa/Falani community in the state Alhaji Yaro Danladi, condemned the action of suspects, adding the community will not encourage criminal amongst herdsmen in the state.
He said, “We want peace in Abia State so we are telling criminal herdsmen to relocate from the state”.