By Longtong Ibrahim
A group of Fulani herdsmen under the umbrella body of Gam-Allah Fulani Development Association, Kaduna State Chapter, have decried the rising incidences of cattle rustling in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna state – Chikun, Kajuru and Kachia, saying, they are been deprived of cattle rearing which is a major source of their livelihood.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna – northwest Nigeria, Chairman of the group, Idris Gundari, on Monday said over 10,000 cows have been taken away from them by gun men, whom according to him are their fellow Fulani brothers trained, armed and sponsored by wealthy individuals in the state.
He noted that, the cattle rustlers while carrying out their nefarious attacks are always well armed with AK47, making them helpless of their situations.
On steps taken to address the situation, the chairman said, they have written to the police twice and the Secretary to the State Government but have not received any response yet; adding that the recent attack happened over the weekend around prison yards in kujama area and kankoma.
Corroborating what the chairman said, Secretary of the group, Ardo Bature Danji, noted that, in 2017, a total of 11,571 cows were stolen from them; with some of their houses set ablaze and money either stolen or collected as ransomed of kidnappings.
He however called on the Kaduna state government to intensify security measures in the aforementioned areas just as they did in Birnin gwari and Igabi Local Government Area of the state to put an end to cattle rustling and reduce tension among their people in the state.
Narrating his experience from some of the attacks, a member of the group, Isa Usman, said he now lived in town while his children goes to streets to beg for alms. He pointed out that, over 200 of his family cows were taken away by rustlers; at some point in time paid ransomed when two of his children were kidnapped and his house set ablaze; forcing him to relocate with his family including the seven children of his brother who was killed in one of the attacks.
