Cattle rustlers should get maximum punishment – Emir Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sunusi II, has urged the Nigeria judiciary to punish cattle rustlers with the maximum legal punishment.

The emir’s statement follows the arrest of 72 suspected cattle rustlers in the notorious Falgore forest in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of the state.

He also advised the governments to resolve the provision of grazing reserve for the Fulani’s so that not only cattle rustling but clashes between them and farmers would be stop.

The emir stated this during the presentation of the 72 suspected cattle rustlers arrested in Falgore forest.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammad Katsina, presented the suspects and the animals to journalists at Kwanar Dawaki in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

The suspects were presented in the presence of the emir and the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Mr. 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.

He said 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.

“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,” he said.

The police commissioner said two other bandits lost their lives during exchange of fire with the police, while only one police officer sustained injury and had since been treated and discharged.

In his remarks, Governor 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.

Mr. 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.