Police arrest 4 over cattle rustling in Oyo

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Nigeria Police Force in Oyo State has arrested four suspects over an attempted cattle rustling incident in Ado-Awaye, Iseyin Local Government Area of the state.

Disclosing the development on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, noted that the suspects were identified as Sekooni Wale, 30, the driver of a Mazda bus used during the operation, and Jimoh Toheeb, 25, who served as the motor boy.

According to him, further investigation led to the arrest of the alleged mastermind, Moshood Abdullahi, 38, described as a notorious cattle rustler from Badagry, as well as another accomplice, Macho Sindi, 29.

Ayanlade explained that the arrests followed a distress report received around 2:00 a.m. on March 13, 2026, from a resident, Muhammad Ibrahim, who reported that armed men had invaded the cattle camp of a herder identified as Yahaya at Iserin area via Ado-Awaye and stole several cows.

The police spokesperson indicated that the divisional police officer in Ado-Awaye quickly mobilised a joint team of police operatives and local vigilantes to the scene where the suspects were intercepted while attempting to escape with the stolen animals.

It was gathered that two cows had already been loaded into a white Mazda bus with registration number KMA 178 ZY, while the suspects were trying to load three more before they spotted the approaching security operatives and fled into the bush, abandoning the vehicle and the animals.

At the scene, the operatives rescued two cattle herders, Ibrahim Musa and Ibrahim Umaru, who had been tied up by the suspects while a manhunt was immediately launched, leading to the arrest of the fleeing persons.

In his remark, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Femi Haruna, commended the swift response of the officers and local security partners, noting that their coordinated efforts helped foil the crime and recover the stolen cattle.