By Okerafor Athanasius, Jalingo
About 222 cows that were rustled by cattle thieves in some parts of Taraba, Plateau and Nasarawa states have been recovered by security operatives in Gassol Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State, North-East Nigeria.
Those recovered, alongside 58 sheep, were handed over to their rightful owners.
Performing the handing-over ceremony at the state College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Jalingo, the state capital, the Chairman, Cow and Livestock Recovery Committee, Dr. Aminu Jauro Hassan, said the cows were recovered through meticulous efforts of all security agencies across the State.
Hassan, who doubles as the State Chairman , Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), applauded the leadership style of State Governor Agbu Kefas, saying he has created an enabling environment and constituted the committee to recover cows rustled by hoodlums.
He also appreciated the security personnel for their relentless efforts towards helping the committee achieve its noble goals and objectives.
Hassan said that before the animals were released to their rightful owners, there were rigorous screening and interviews of over 52 groups leading to the discovery that the cows belong to two different groups of herdsmen.
“The first group owns a total of 190 cows while the second group owns only two which are still subject to contention”, he recalled.
The ALGON boss added: “The committee had decided to step down 24 cows and released 198 cows to these perceived owners that are identified after the rigorous screening because their description, depiction and marks ascribed on the cows showed they are the real owners.”
Dr. Hassan disclosed that several persons had been arrested in connection with the matter, assuring the public that the committee would continue to give publicity in respect to the remaining cows so that other herders would also come for proper identification and collection of their lost cows.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the State, Alhaji Yau Ibrahim, thanked Gov. Kefas, the Recovery Committee and security agencies for ensuring that their rustled cows and sheep were recoverd and peacefully handed over to the owners.
