The Abia State security task force, Operation Crush, has apprehended three suspected cattle rustlers in Onhiya community, located in Umuahia South Local Government Area.
The suspects—Saidu Ali, Yakubu Mohammed, and Adamu Isa—were arrested on Sunday, June 29, 2025, following a tip-off after they attempted to steal six cows out of a herd of thirty-eight.
During a briefing with reporters in Umuahia, Navy Commander Macdonald Uba (retd.), Special Adviser to the state governor on Security Matters, credited the swift response of Operation Crush for the successful arrest.
“We have a strong farmers-herders committee that received the intelligence and promptly forwarded it to Operation Crush,” Uba said. “They acted quickly to apprehend the suspects, who have since been profiled by the Director-General of the State Security Services.”
Commander Uba stressed the potential consequences if the cattle had been stolen, emphasizing the impact on the Onhiya community and the social problems that might have followed.
“This shows that under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Alex Choma, Abia State will not tolerate criminals—especially those who seek to disrupt peace and make life difficult for its citizens,” he said.
He added that the rustlers intended to steal cattle from fellow Fulani herdsmen, which could have led to misunderstandings and conflict between communities.
“If not for Operation Crush’s intervention, the theft would have falsely implicated the Onhiya community in rustling activities,” Uba noted.
He also mentioned that the police have custody of the suspects’ phones and may use information obtained to arrest potential buyers. “We have further leads that could result in the arrest of the Alhajis involved in purchasing the stolen cattle,” he added.
Speaking on the issue, the traditional ruler of the Hausa community in Abia State, Sarkin Hausawa HRH Eze Yaro Danladi, expressed regret over the rustlers’ actions.
“One can only imagine the reaction of the cattle owners if the theft had succeeded,” he said.
According to the suspects, one of them—a herder—had sold the plan to them. One suspect claimed, “We initially planned to take one cow, but the Fulani owners are now claiming five.”
