The Oyo State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with a cattle rustling incident in Ado-Awaye, as part of efforts to curb rural criminality in the state.
The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade.
According to the police, the suspects include Sekooni Wale, 30, identified as the driver of a Mazda bus allegedly used in the operation, and Jimoh Toheeb, 25, said to be the motor boy.
Ayanlade revealed that further investigation led operatives to Maya Town, where the principal suspect, Moshood Abdullahi, 38, was apprehended.
The suspect, who reportedly hails from Badagry, was described by the police as a notorious cattle rustler whose arrest subsequently led to the capture of another accomplice, Macho Sindi, 29.
“The Command recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained efforts to combat rural criminality and protect lives and property, with the successful recovery of rustled cattle and the arrest of four suspected cattle rustlers following a swift response to a distress report,” the statement said.
The incident, according to the police, occurred in the early hours of Thursday, March 13, 2026, at about 2:00 a.m., when a distress call was received from a resident, Muhammad Ibrahim, in the Igbojaye area.
Police operatives were immediately mobilised to the scene, leading to the recovery of the stolen cattle and the subsequent arrests.
The Command reiterated its commitment to tackling criminal activities in rural communities, urging residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely information to security agencies.
