Accra, Nov 16, GNA - Police on Tuesday appealed to the public to assist in the arrest of Suba Yusif, a 45 year-old Fulani herdsman, who is said to have absconded with over 500 cattle estimated at 2.5 billion cedis.

Yusif was taking care of 310 cattle belonging Alhaj Sampson Kwarkwa, Managing Director of Al-Zulpha Farms at Winneba. He was said to have stolen 190 cattle belonging to two other complainants - Alhaji Labaran and Hafaa Akeem.

Briefing the press in Accra, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Jonathan Yakubu said five persons had so far been arrested in connection with the theft.

They are Sulemana Issifu, a 20-year-old son of suspect, Innusah Abdulai, 38, Jalgo Fulani, 51, Muri Ali, 43 and Hammadu Hamidu, 45. ACP Yakubu said the police were looking for one Raman who was believed to have escaped with Yusif and has been working with Alhaj Kwarkwa for four years.

He said Alhaj Kwarkwa reported the missing herd of cattle to the Police last Sunday. He said the suspect absconded with his wife and children.

ACP Yakubu said before the celebration of Eid-Ul-Fitr festivities, Yusif went to Alhaj Kwarkwa to collect 500,000 cedis, two-and-a-half pieces of cloth and other household items.

Three days later, he had information that Yusif had absconded with the 310 cattle and all efforts to trace him had proved futile. ACP Yakubu said Yusif might be heading towards Central, Western, Brong Ahafo or the Northern regions and appealed to the public to assist by offering any information on him.

"It is believed that he would give out some of these cows to other herdsmen. We are appealing to the public to be wary." He said the police had also sent messages to its officers throughout the country and that the complainant had offered 20 million cedis as reward to any individual who would offer any information on the suspect.