The Oyo State Police Command has arrested four suspected cattle rustlers and recovered stolen livestock following a swift security operation in Ado-Awaye area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso Ayanlade, disclosed that the breakthrough came after police received a distress call from a resident, Muhammad Ibrahim, in the Igbojaye area reporting that armed men had invaded a cattle camp belonging to one Yahaya at Iserin via Ado-Awaye.
According to the police, the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, March 13, 2026, at about 2:00 a.m., prompting the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ado-Awaye Division to immediately mobilise officers alongside local vigilantes to the scene.
The security team reportedly intercepted the suspects while they were attempting to flee with the stolen animals.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had already loaded two cows into a white Mazda bus with registration number KMA 178 ZY and were trying to load three additional cattle when the patrol team arrived.
On sighting the operatives, the criminals abandoned the vehicle and fled into nearby bushes.
The joint team also discovered two cattle herders, Ibrahim Musa and Ibrahim Umaru, who had been tied up by the suspects during the attack.
A coordinated manhunt involving police officers and vigilante members led to the arrest of Sekooni Wale, 30, identified as the driver of the bus, and Jimoh Toheeb, 25, who was said to be the motor boy.
READ ALSO:Â Police Foil Cattle Theft, Arrest Motorcycle Thieves in Gombe
Further investigations extended to Maya Town in the Lanlate area resulted in the arrest of the alleged mastermind, Moshood Abdullahi, 38, who reportedly came from Badagry and was described by the police as a notorious cattle rustler. His arrest also led to the capture of another suspect, Macho Sindi, 29.
Police said the suspects confessed to participating in the crime during interrogation.
The state Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, commended the prompt action and bravery of the operatives and local security partners whose intervention foiled the operation and led to the recovery of the stolen cattle.
He also praised the cooperation between the police and community members, describing it as crucial to maintaining security across rural communities in the state.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to aid ongoing efforts to combat crime.
In a related development, the police also said they thwarted a highway robbery attempt along the Ogbomoso–Ilorin Expressway after a joint patrol team encountered suspected armed robbers who had reportedly blocked the road at Egbeda Village.