Drama unfolded in Kwara market as five cows reportedly identified their owners, leading to the arrest of a suspected cattle rustler linked to a bandit network.

What began as an ordinary evening at Ajase-Ipo market in Kwara State ended dramatically after five cows allegedly recognised their rightful owners and exposed a suspected cattle rustler.

The incident occurred on January 11, 2026, at the livestock section of the market in Ifelodun Local Government Area. According to reports, a man had brought five cows to the market and quietly tied them among other animals put up for sale, hoping to sell them unnoticed.
However, the situation changed suddenly when the cows reportedly sighted the herders believed to be their real owners from within the crowd. Witnesses said the animals became restless immediately, pulling at their ropes, tossing their heads, and mooing loudly as they moved toward the men they recognised.
The unusual scene reportedly disrupted activities in the market as traders, buyers, and other onlookers stopped to observe what was happening.
A trader identified as Danjuma Bature said the most surprising aspect was that the herders had not yet claimed the cows before the animals reacted.
According to him, cattle are capable of recognising the people who care for them daily through familiar voices, routines, and physical presence.
The herders later stepped forward and identified the cows through distinct horn patterns, body marks, and scars, insisting they were among animals stolen from them days earlier.
Attention then shifted to the seller, identified as 30-year-old Mohammed Jabi from Buju village in Niger State, who resides in Patigi, Kwara State.
Reports said Jabi allegedly failed to provide a convincing explanation regarding how he obtained the animals, prompting market officials to contact the Special Task Force established by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Investigators later alleged that Jabi was working for a suspected bandit commander known as Bachujo, said to be part of a criminal network operating across forests in Kwara, Niger, and Kogi states.
Security sources claimed the group had allegedly moved the cows to the market to exchange them for food items and other supplies due to increasing security pressure in the forests.
Jabi is currently being detained while security operatives continue efforts to track down other suspected members of the network.
The recovered cows have since been returned to their owners.
For many traders who witnessed the incident, the event served as a reminder that animals can still recognise those who care for them, even in the midst of a crowded marketplace.
Source: Adapted from Saturday Vanguard.