A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State, on Thursday remanded five herders in a correctional facility in connection with the alleged theft of four cows valued at N2.5 million.
The accused, Isah Kachalla, Babawuro Usman, Usman Sajo, Patrick Ali, and Usman Dikko, all from Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area, were charged with criminal conspiracy, cattle theft, and dishonestly receiving stolen property.
Chief Magistrate Musa Adamu, after hearing the charges, adjourned the case to January 21 for further hearing, after the five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel, Sgt. Ahmed Abubakar, informed the court that the theft occurred in July 2024. He stated that the complainant, Bello Doga from Mayo-Belwa, reported the crime to the police on January 4 at about 11:30 a.m.
According to Abubakar, the five defendants, along with one Ezekiel James, who is still at large, allegedly conspired to steal the four cows from Doga’s ranch. The stolen cattle were reportedly received by Umar Dikko from Zing Local Government Area, Taraba State, and sent to an undisclosed location.
The prosecution revealed that the defendants were apprehended during the police investigation, while James remains on the run.
The offence, according to the prosecution, violates sections 60, 27, and 308 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.
