Date: 2017-02-01

Mrs Roseline Aremu, wife of a former councillor in the state, Hon Samuel Olanrewaju Aremu, has been arrested by men of the Kwara State Command of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Omu-Aran for allegedly stealing over 30 goats in the community and its environs.

It was gathered that the culprit popularly called 'Mama G'(mama goat) was arrested penultimate Sunday in Omu-Aran following a tip off by some residents in the community who had long complained about their missing animals.

Over 30 life goats where allegedly found when NSCDC officials stormed her residence to conduct a search.

A source told National Pilot yesterday in Ilorin that over 15 residents identified their goats in Mrs Aremu's house during the search. Husband of the accused served as councillor in the state during the first tenure of former governor Dr. Bukola Saraki under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to findings by this medium, she was charged to the Magistrate Court and remanded in Omu-Aran following the incidence but has been relocated to Ilorin because of lack of facility to remand female offenders in the community.

Trouble allegedly started when one of her victims was told by some residents who had long suspected Roseline of leading a goat racketeering in the area to go and search for her animal at Mrs Aremu's residence.

"When he got there, he pretended to be a customer and found his goat but Mrs Roseline was not around. He told her apprentices that he will come back with the money to pay for it.

"That was how he went to inform officials of NSCDC who came to arrest 'Mama Goat' before she was taken to the area commander's office and subsequently charged to court.

"She has become a notorious goat racketeer in the community and the residents have been monitoring her. She has turned an international goat dealer and has a wide network of those stealing goats for her which she collects at a specific time mostly early in the morning, deposit them at her facility before taken them to the market. She had been engaged in the business for years.

"Although, she claimed to have made money from the jointly operated sawmill business with her spouse, the people of the community know that was a cover.

National Pilot gathered that the case had been adjourned to February 8 and her lawyers have intensified efforts to get her bail "since it is a bail able offence".

The traditional ruler of her ward in Oko, Oba Victor Olawuyi and the Oloro of Oro, Oba Rafiu Ajiboye have both reportedly rejected pressures from her friends and family to bury the case, it was learnt. All efforts to get the reaction of the state Command of the NSCDC, Ilorin proved abortive last night as the phone of the Commandant, Pedro Awili and his PRO, Ibrahim Kadir were switched off.

But her husband, Lanre Aremu when contacted on the issue confirmed the arrest of his wife over the incident but declined further comment. "Yes, it is true but I don't want to speak further on the matter for now. That is the only thing I can say on it", Aremu told National Pilot.