A 30-year-old herdsman has been remanded into police custody by the Nsuta Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region over the alleged theft of 65 cattle valued at thousands of cedis.
Musah Yakubu, a resident of Atebubu in the Bono East Region, was remanded on Tuesday by the presiding judge, His Lordship Simon Nketiah Gagah, to assist with ongoing investigations.
Three other suspects identified only as Ali, Awudu and Haruna are currently on the run and are being sought by police.
Prosecutors told the court that the complainant, Karim Abdulai, a 42-year-old cattle farmer who lives at Asuoso along the Offinso Akomadan highway, owns three cattle kraals and employs herdsmen to care for the animals.
Chief Inspector Owusu Kobi Moses said Haruna, one of the suspects, worked for the complainant alongside two other herdsmen at a ranch at Nkwankwaa. Ali was said to be a former employee of the complainant, while Awudu was described as a friend of Haruna.
According to the prosecution, Haruna left with one batch of cattle for grazing at about 06:00 on 8 May but failed to return by the usual time later that evening.
The following morning, another herdsman informed the complainant that Haruna and the cattle were still missing.
The complainant then organised a search party, but initial efforts to locate the animals were unsuccessful.
The court heard that the complainant later received information from an informant that Yakubu and his alleged accomplices were moving the cattle towards Apenten near Sekyedumase.
Acting on the tip off, the complainant and some residents tracked footprints into a nearby bush where they allegedly found the cattle grazing while the suspects rested nearby.
One of the suspects was reportedly carrying a single barrel gun.
Fearing for his safety, the complainant reported the matter to police at Sekyedumase. Officers later accompanied him to the scene where Yakubu was arrested. The remaining suspects escaped.
Police said 60 of the cattle had been recovered, while five animals were still missing.
The missing livestock included three bulls valued at GH¢14,000 each and two cows valued at GH¢13,000 each, bringing the estimated loss to GH¢68,000.
Photographs and video recordings of the recovered cattle were taken as evidence before the animals were returned to the complainant.
The prosecution said investigations were ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects.
Yakubu’s plea was not taken because investigations are still underway.
The case has been adjourned to 3rd June 2026.
