LG seeks patrol teams to tackle cattle rustling

The Chairman of Tureta Local Government Council in Sokoto State, Alhaji Abubakar Salihu, has called for the immediate deployment of joint patrol teams in the

 area to tackle cattle rustling and other criminal activities.

Salihu made the call on Monday in Tureta while commenting on the perennial menace of cattle rustling in the area.

'' I had alerted the state government and all the security agencies in the state, including the military, about the frequent threats of cattle rustlers since two months ago.

'' Even two weeks ago, we had gotten intelligence reports that some of these hoodlums were seen conducting a reconnaissance exercise in some forests in our local government.

'' These forests share borders with Zamfara and Kebbi states, especially the former, which is the hub of cattle rustling in the area,'' he said.

Salihu listed the forests to include Mallanji, Birisawa, Kuruwa, Dantayawa, Barayar-Giwa and Jan-Dutse.

According to him, the hoodlums mostly engage in cattle rustling, robberies, killings and kidnapping of women.

'' The earlier these patrol teams were deployed to the local government, the better for the security of lives and property of the law abiding residents of the local government.

'' These rustlers are usually itinerant and they move in groups on motorcycles and they are always armed with dangerous weapons.

'' Even in 2014, they attacked many villages in my local government, they carted away cattle, stole money and kidnapped scores of women who were only released later,'' Salihu said.