Police in Ogun State have arrested two suspected cattle rustlers, Mohammed Mosque and Olaseinde Olatunji, for allegedly stealing a cow valued at N1,700,000 from a dairy farm located at Ibogun in Ifo Local Council Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday at about 2:30 am after they invaded the farm at Omitoro Village via Coker, Ibogun, armed with a knife and using an operational vehicle to steal the cow. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, who confirmed the incident in a statement released in Abeokuta, the state capital, the arrest followed a distress call that prompted operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to swiftly mobilize to the scene. The suspects were apprehended while attempting to escape in a mini bus commonly known as 'Korope'.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the two arrested suspects were part of a four-man gang, with two other accomplices managing to escape into the surrounding bush. Exhibits recovered from the scene include the stolen cow, one knife, and the operational mini bus used in committing the crime. The vehicle has been secured at the Ibogun SWAT office, while the cow was photographed for evidence and subsequently released to its owner after necessary procedures.
“The suspects are currently in custody, while investigation is ongoing. Efforts are being intensified to track down and apprehend the fleeing members of the gang. The case will be transferred to the appropriate investigative unit for further discreet investigation and prosecution,” Babaseyi added.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the swift response of the operatives and assured that the Command remains resolute in its commitment to rid the state of criminal elements.
