More than 600 cattle were stolen while three were herdsmen killed by cattle rustlers at Gareji village of Wukari local government area in Taraba state midnight on Sunday. This brings to 17, 500 cattle stolen in Taraba in the last three years, the chairman Miyyetti Allah Association of Nigeria Taraba state branch, Alhaji Mafindi Danbauran said.

He said the rustler about ten in number and well-armed invaded the Fulani settlement at Gareji mid night and carted away the animals.

The chairman stated that during the attack, three herds men were killed while some women were abducted to unknown locations.

He said some local tribes’ men were suspected to be behind the attack as they were responsible of similar attacks in the past.

Alhaji Danburan said the number of cows stolen in the state by cattle rustlers from 2013 to date was 17500 while over 200 herds men were killed by the rustlers.

He called on the federal government to set up special task force on cattle rustling in the state to safe guard the herdsmen and their animals.

Credit: DailyTrust