Sokoto State Police Command on Saturday said it had set up a special squad to tackle the increasing cases of rustling in parts of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, El-Mustapha Sani, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.

Sani said the squad was set up following recent resolution of the State House of Assembly, which called on security agencies to beef up security of lives and property, especially in northern part of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four persons were recently killed in five villages of Isa Local Government Area by suspected rustlers, who set ablaze houses and silos and carted away 900 animals, comprising cattle, goats and sheep.

“The special squad, comprising conventional and mobile policemen, had been mobilized to the troubled area.

“The policemen will serve as reinforcement to those in Isa and Sabon-Birni police divisions.

“The personnel will join the military detachment in the area to patrol the various forests on 24 hour basis.” (NAN)