DRAMA AS STOLEN COWS EXPOSE BANDIT IN KWARA MARKET!

ILORIN — An unusual drama unfolded at the popular Ajase-Ipo livestock market in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State when five rustled cows actively recognized their original owners, leading to the immediate arrest of a suspected bandit.

​The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Mohammed Jabi, a native of Buju village in Niger State who resides in Patigi, Kwara State, was caught attempting to sell the stolen livestock to unsuspecting buyers.

​The Market Drama

​The busy afternoon market routine took a dramatic turn when a group of herders, who had been combing regional markets for days in search of their stolen herd, approached the section where Jabi had tied the five cows.

​Before the herders could even examine the livestock, the animals reportedly became highly agitated. Eyewitnesses stated that the cows pulled aggressively against their ropes, turned sharply toward the approaching herders, and began making distinct low sounds of recognition.

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​”What made the development even more striking was that the herders had not yet claimed ownership of the cows,” said Danjuma Bature, a livestock trader who witnessed the incident. “The animals appeared to recognize them first. Cattle possess an incredible ability to remember familiar voices, faces, and grazing routines even after long periods of separation. That is exactly what played out here.”

​Upon stepping closer, the herders positively identified the livestock, pointing out specific horn shapes, brandings, and unique body marks. When confronted by market authorities, Jabi failed to provide any verifiable proof of ownership or a convincing explanation of how he acquired the cattle.

​Police Intervention and Bandit Link

​Market officials promptly alerted the police, leading to the swift intervention of operatives attached to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force, headed by IGP Olatunji Disu.

​Preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that Jabi was not acting alone. He is allegedly a logistics courier for a notorious bandit commander known simply as Bachujo, who commands a criminal syndicate operating within the dense forest corridors connecting Kwara, Niger, and Kogi states.

​Security sources indicate that recent aggressive, joint military-police offensives within these forest reserves have severely squeezed the logistics and supply chains of these criminal networks. Investigators believe Jabi was dispatched to the Ajase-Ipo market to quickly liquidate the stolen cattle in exchange for cash, food items, and essential supplies for the hidden bandits.

​Suspect Detained

​The Kwara State Police Command confirmed that the five recovered cows have been officially returned to their rightful owners following verified documentation.

​Meanwhile, Mohammed Jabi remains in security custody, assisting investigators as tactical teams intensify efforts to track down Bachujo and dismantle the remaining remnants of the cross-border criminal network.