Police recover 42 stolen sheep in Niger, arrest 4 suspects

Monday, March, 2 2026 - At least 42 sheep suspected of being rustled from parts of Niger State have been recovered in separate operations by the Niger State Police Command.

According to Punch, four suspects allegedly involved in the livestock theft were also arrested.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the arrests were made following credible intelligence.

According to him, operatives attached to the command’s Crack Squad intercepted and apprehended the suspects on February 24 at about 6pm.

Abiodun identified the suspects as Abubakar Musa, 23, of Maito Village via Lemu; Muhammed Ibeto, 20, of Kara via Jebba; Bello Saidu, 20, also of Kara via Jebba; and Abubakar Alhaji, 20, of Kara via Jebba.

He explained that the arrests were made after the police received a tip-off that the suspects had been sighted in the Raba Forest area near Mokwa with suspected stolen animals.

“Police operatives swung into action and trailed the suspects along the Jebba–Mokwa Road. Four members of the syndicate were arrested, while others fled into the forest,” he said.

During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to rustling the sheep from Salihu Village near Mokwa and mentioned other members of the gang who are currently at large.

Abiodun added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, stressing that the 42 recovered sheep had been identified and claimed by their rightful owner.

Livestock rustling remains a recurring security challenge across parts of northern Nigeria, particularly in Niger State. In 2025, security operatives recovered about 50 rustled sheep following an attack by suspected livestock thieves on Dapo Village.

According to reports, the attackers stormed the community, stole the animals, and loaded them into three vehicles. After receiving a distress call, local vigilantes mobilised and tracked the suspects.

Two of the vehicles — a Toyota Hijet and a Toyota First Lady — were intercepted along the Yangalo–Nasko Road, while the third vehicle reportedly escaped through an unknown route.