A 30-year-old herdsman has been remanded into police custody in the Ashanti Region over the alleged theft of 65 cattle valued at thousands of cedis, while police pursue three other suspects who remain at large, prosecutors said.

Musah Yakubu, a resident of Atebubu in the Bono East Region, was remanded by the Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District on Tuesday (13 May), pending further investigations into the alleged cattle theft.

Three suspects identified only as Ali, Awudu and Haruna are being sought in connection with the case.

Prosecutors told the court that the complainant, Karim Abdulai, a cattle farmer based at Asuoso along the Offinso-Akomadan highway, owns three kraals with about 65 cattle each and employs herdsmen to manage the animals.

According to the prosecution, suspect Haruna, an employee of the complainant, left for grazing with one batch of cattle on 8 May but failed to return.

The following day, the complainant was informed by another herdsman that both Haruna and the cattle were missing, prompting a search in nearby bush areas, prosecutors said.

Investigators said the complainant later received intelligence that Yakubu and his alleged accomplices were moving the cattle towards Apenten near Sekyedumase.

The complainant and some residents reportedly traced the cattle into a bush area where the animals were found grazing while the suspects rested nearby. One of the suspects was allegedly carrying a single-barrelled gun.

Police later accompanied the complainant to the scene and arrested Yakubu, while the other suspects escaped, prosecutors said.

Authorities said 60 of the cattle were recovered, but five animals remain missing, including three bulls and two cows valued at a combined GHC68,000.

Photographs and video recordings of the recovered cattle were taken as evidence before the animals were returned to the complainant.

The court did not take Yakubu’s plea, citing ongoing investigations, and adjourned the case to 3 June.