Several livestock including cows, bulls and rams were rustled away from a popular farm center, Sarkin Gobir Adiya Farms in Sokoto, by unknown persons suspected to be armed cattle rustlers.
The farm is located a few kilometers from the state capital and is famous for breeding multimillion naira livestock and fisheries for commercial purposes.
The founder of the farm, Alhaji Abdullahi S. Adiya while taking security personnel round the crime scene said about no fewer than 135 cows and 180 rams including some bulls were rustled by the criminals.
The security personnel were led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Abubakar.
Adiya told Journalists in Sokoto that the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday where the cows and rams rustled were those reserved for Eid-el-kabir festive period.
“About 180 rams, 135 cows and bulls are currently missing from our farm. However, our security guards were able to trace their route and discovered a few numbers of cows- about 17 of them, two bulls and eight rams that were abandoned in the bush.
“This is one of its kind since the establishment of this farm forty years ago. We have lost millions of naira and nobody will compensate us. Governments at all levels need to look into this insecurity. Our lives and property are no longer safe.”
Adiya wondered why rustlers’ invasion into the farm that shared a perimeter fence with a federal airport in the state.
“The amazing thing is that the location of the farm is not far from the city and also shares a perimeter fence with the Sultan Abubakar III international airport. This is what we are known for. It is our tradition and way of fikng business but suddenly some criminals invaded our farm and carted them away.”
He called on the Federal Government to look inwardly into the insecurity situation in the state in a bid to find a lasting solution.
“We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to step up on the issue of security. We are losing both human lives and livelihoods. The federal government must show commitment in this regard.”
