The Sokoto State Police Command has refuted reports claiming that a ranch close to Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in the state was attacked and significant number of livestock rustled.
The spokesman for the command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, in a statement, said livestock were not rustled as speculated.
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He said the command received information on intrusion into the farm and escape of 315 livestock on June 28 at about 2:30 am.
He said upon receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Usaini Gumel deployed tactical teams for fact-finding and on-the-spot assessment of the incident.
“There followed the deployment of the investigation team to unravel the circumstances that led to the situation.
“Fortunately, on 29/06/2022 at about 1pm, information was received from the owner of the ranch, Alhaji Abdullahi S. Gobir Adiya that, 135 among the rustled livestock have returned back to the farm comprising of 65 bulls and 78 rams respectively.
“Investigation into the matter has already been intensified as there are elements of foul play suspected and that it is not cattle rustling as earlier reported by some media outlets,” the statement added.
He, however, appealed to residents to be calm.
The owner of the farm had claimed that more than 200 herds of cattle, rams and sheep were rustled by bandits.