Kaduna: Over 50 Members Killed, 200,000 Cattle Rustled in 9 Months – MACBAN

In the past nine months, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kaduna State has reported significant losses due to cattle rustling and related insecurity. Over 200,000 cattle have been stolen and more than 50 MACBAN members have been killed, highlighting the severe impact on pastoralists and the livestock economy.

MACBAN state chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa, disclosed this during a news briefing, emphasizing that some stolen cattle have been recovered in various locations, including Lagos. The association noted that the killings of their members occurred due to communal clashes, farmer attacks, and bandit activities during cattle-rustling operations.

Areas such as Kachia, Chikun, Kagarko, and others have witnessed substantial livestock losses. Musa stressed that cattle are not just commercial assets but the source of survival for pastoralists, with the loss of a herd potentially leading to severe economic hardship. He called for intensified operations by the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to combat cattle rustling and other forms of rural criminality.

MACBAN also urged collaboration among security forces to conduct intelligence-led operations in identified hotspots and improve security along livestock routes. The chairman appealed for stronger measures to recover and return stolen animals to their rightful owners and for better dialogue and peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists.