A swift security operation by Operation Crush, a special anti-crime task force in Abia State, has led to the arrest of three suspected cattle rustlers in the Onhiya community of Umuahia South Local Government Area.
The suspects—Saidu Ali, Yakubu Mohammed, and Adamu Isa—were intercepted on Sunday, June 29, 2025, while allegedly attempting to steal six cows from a herd of thirty-eight.
Their arrest followed a credible tip-off coordinated through the state’s Farmers-Herders Committee, which promptly relayed the intelligence to the security team.
Speaking at a press briefing in Umuahia, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Navy Commander Macdonald Uba, credited the success of the operation to rapid response and effective intelligence sharing.
“This is a testament to the effectiveness of the structure we’ve put in place. The Farmers-Herders Committee did a great job in passing on the information to Operation Crush, who acted immediately and apprehended the suspects before the theft could be carried out,” Uba said.
He revealed that the rustlers had plotted to make it appear that the Onhiya community was responsible for the theft, despite their target being cattle belonging to fellow Fulani herders. “Such an act could have triggered serious tensions and potentially violent reprisals in the area,” he added.
Commander Uba further emphasized the state government’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal activities. “Under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, Abia State will remain hostile to criminality in any form. We will not allow any individual or group to disrupt the peace and wellbeing of our citizens,” he declared.
Investigations so far have revealed that the suspects intended to sell the stolen livestock to unnamed Alhajis. According to Uba, mobile phones recovered from the suspects have yielded valuable information that could lead to further arrests. “It is now up to the police to follow up on this intelligence and apprehend the intended buyers,” he noted.
Also commenting on the incident, the traditional ruler of the Hausa community in Abia State, HRH Eze Yaro Danladi (Sarkin Hausawa), expressed regret over the actions of the suspects. “Their plan, if successful, could have led to devastating consequences for the peaceful residents of Onhiya,” he said.
One of the arrested suspects admitted that the plan was initiated by a fellow herder and was originally meant to involve only one cow. However, tensions escalated when the cattle owners accused them of attempting to take five.
“We only planned to take one cattle, but the Fulani owners are now saying we tried to take five,” the suspect confessed.
Authorities have confirmed that the suspects have been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for profiling, and further investigations are ongoing.
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