The Kano State Government on Saturday granted amnesty to 39 cattle rustlers who voluntarily repented and laid down their arms, with a promise never to engage in the unwholesome act again.

Prior to granting the amnesty at a ceremony held at Gomo Forest in Sumaila Local Government Area of the state, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje mandated them to sign an undertaking in the presence of the officials of state Ministry of Justice.

Ganduje warned that if they ventured into the illegal act again, they would be punished according to the law.


 
The governor advised unrepentant cattle rustlers to emulate the pardoned cattle rustlers to avoid been caught on the wrong side of the law.

In his address, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Katsina, described the occasion as a remarkable turning point in the history of cattle rustling in the country.

The police boss added that the fight against cattle rustling, which commenced on September 19, 2015, had led to the apprehension of more than 253 bandits, as well as the recovery of over 4,000 cows; 1,003 goats/sheep; 11 camels and 19 donkeys.

Other animals recovered, the CP said, included nine chickens and four does, while 11 bandits lost their lives during the encounter with the police.

He added that 357 assorted rifles, AK 47 pump action guns; dane guns; pistols and double barrel guns; bows and arrows, locally made bullet proofs; security uniforms and cudgels were also seized from the bandits.

“The uniqueness of today’s occasion is not about parading arrested suspects caught in the act but is about receiving a total number of 39 repented cattle rustlers, who until now were among those responsible for the spate of cattle rustling, kidnappings and other heinous crimes, around Falgore forest vicinity.’’

According to Musa Katsina, having realised the superior fire power of the police, the rustlers had no other option but to surrender in direct response to the call by Ganduje to grant those, who repented amnesty.