In continuation of its assignment, the Kaduna State Committee on the distribution of animals recaptured from cattle rustlers at the Birnin Gwari Distribution Centre at the  weekend returned 286 heads cattle to their owners.

Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to the governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, disclosed this while providing an update on the ongoing military operation against cattle rustlers operating in Kamuku and Kuyanbana forests that cut across Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

According to Aruwan, the committee also returned 46 sheep to their rightful owners after verifying their claims to be true.

“Those that benefited from the exercise and the number of animals they reclaimed is as follows: Lawal Haruna 44 cows, Huraira Fulani Idris 21 cows, Hassan Maiduna 36cows, Habibu Fulani, 41 cows, Alhaji Ali Bello 1 cow, Doctor Haruna Al-Rasheed 34 cows and 5 sheep, Ibrahim Musa 2 cows, Mu’azu Alhaji Zubairu, 9 cows, Umaru Jidi 2 cows, Umaru Garba 10 cows and 11 sheep and Sule Audu 24 cows and 6 sheep.

“Others include, Sule Abubakar 12 cows and 16 sheep, Rabe Alhaji Ali 24 cows and 8  sheep, Abubakar Shehu Kakangi 2 cows, Habu Audu five cows, Buhari Saleh four cows and Gambo Dan Azumi eight cows, while Malam Liman Tukur, Idi Ibrahim, Mansur Ahmad, Audu Na Adamu, Bala Samaila, Bature Ibrahim and Laraba Salmanu claimed one cow each.”

Meanwhile, the security operations continue in the forest areas.

Similarly, the Operation Yaki Surveillance Patrol team attached to the Sabon-Gari Divisional Police Headquarters, Kaduna had on Saturday 19th September, 2015 at about 3:00am received a distress call that armed robbers were operating at House No. AG 6 Gwandu Road in Kaduna metropolis.

The operatives immediately rushed to the scene where the bandits engaged them in a gun duel and as a result, the gang leaders was shot dead while other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds. Items that include one (1) AK 47 Rifle No. BE6350992 with the magazine painted in police colours, one (1) Barreta Pistol No. CB080652 – Y5054 were recovered from the dead gang leader. Investigation has already commenced to track down the other fleeing members of the gang.