The Oyo State Police Command has apprehended four individuals linked to a cattle rustling operation in Ado-Awaye, located in the Iseyin Local Government Area, after acting swiftly on a distress call from residents.
This was disclosed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement released on Monday in Ibadan.
He noted that the operation not only led to the recovery of the stolen livestock but also the rescue of two herders who had been restrained by the suspects.
According to the statement, the incident took place in the early hours of Thursday, March 13, 2026, around 2 a.m., when Muhammad Ibrahim from the Igbojaye area alerted authorities that armed men had stormed a cattle camp owned by one Yahaya in the Iserin area via Ado-Awaye, making away with several cows.
Ayanlade explained that the Divisional Police Officer in Ado-Awaye promptly deployed a combined team of police personnel and local vigilantes to the scene.
Their quick intervention resulted in the interception of the suspects as they attempted to flee with the stolen cattle.
“On arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the suspects had already loaded two cows into a white Mazda bus with registration number KMA 178 ZY and were in the process of loading three other cows when the police patrol team closed in on them. On sighting the operatives, the hoodlums abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush,” he said.
He further stated that two herders, identified as Ibrahim Musa and Ibrahim Umaru, were found tied up at the camp and were subsequently freed by the security team.
The police spokesperson added that a coordinated search operation led to the arrest of the vehicle’s driver, Sekooni Wale, 30, and the motor boy, Jimoh Toheeb, 25, shortly after the incident.
He said the investigation later extended to Maya Town in the Lanlate area, where the suspected ringleader, Moshood Abdullahi, 38, described as a notorious cattle rustler from Badagry, was captured along with another accomplice, Macho Sindi, 29.
Ayanlade noted that the suspects admitted their roles in the crime during interrogation, stressing that the success of the operation demonstrates the value of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local security outfits.
“The successful recovery of the rustled cattle and arrest of the suspects underscores the effectiveness of coordinated security efforts in protecting lives and property in rural communities,” the statement added.
The command reaffirmed its resolve to continue intensifying efforts to combat criminal activities and ensure the safety of residents across the state.
