The Niger State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with cattle rustled from the Ibeto community in Mariga Local Government Area and later traced to Lagos and Oyo states.
According to the command, the livestock were stolen and moved across state lines before detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna, launched an investigation following a complaint filed on November 13, 2025.
Police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the operation led to the recovery of several cows identified by their rightful owners.
The arrested suspects are 25-year-old Naziru Mustapha of Ogbomoso, Oyo State; 30-year-old Husseini Abubakar of Mariga, who also resides in Ogbomoso; and 40-year-old Kabiru Magaji, likewise from Mariga but living in Ogbomoso.
Abiodun said Naziru and Husseini were found with eight of the stolen cattle, which were subsequently returned to the owners, adding that the group played significant roles in the illicit livestock trade.
Two other suspects Bashar Sani and Ibrahim Tasiu, both from Mariga but based in the Ogbomoso area are currently at large.
The police assured that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects, dismantle the wider network of receivers and recover additional stolen animals as investigations continue.