BY CELESTINE IHEJIRIKA / JALUNGO
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Taraba State Government has handed over 198 of 222 cows recovered from rustlers to the rightful owners, just as it commended the security agents, community leaders for being proactive.
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Performing the handing over ceremony in Jalingo, Chairman Committee on recovery of stolen cows in the State, Dr. Aminu Jauro Hassan explained that the livestock including 58 sheep/goats were successfully intercepted by security operatives.
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The ALGON state chairman pointed out that the cows that were moved from the axis of Karim Lamido, Plateau and Nasarawa were intercepted in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State through collaborative efforts of security agencies.
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Jauro said that after rigorous interviews and screening of over 52 groups, the committee discovered that the livestock belongs to different groups of herdsmen.
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According to him, “We finally arrived at a conclusion that some of the cows belong to two different groups. The first group owns a total of 190 cows while the second group owns only two which are still subject to contentions”.
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“The committee had decided to step down 24 cows and released 198 to the perceived owners that are identified after rigorous screening because their description, depiction and marks ascribed on the cows showed they are the real owners.
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Jauro who is also the Executive Chairman of Jalingo Local Government Council reiterated the determination and commitment of the committee to continuously work in collaboration with security agencies and community leaders to ensure that justice was done in line with the mandate given them by the State Governor through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
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He said several persons had been arrested in connection with the matter and assured the general public that the committee would continue to give publicity in respect to the remaining cows so that other herders would also come for proper identification and collection of their lost cows.
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In his remark, the Chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ya’u Ibrahim Barewa who spoke through his Vice Chairman, Bappah Mohammed commended the State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kafas and Security Agencies for their swift action in recovering the stolen livestock.
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He emphasized that such effort would help safeguard the livelihood of cattle breeders and strengthen trust between herders and security agencies while pledging its association’s undiluted and maximum support to Governor Kefas administration to succeed.
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