Toyyibat Qasim.
Cattle breeders in Kaduna State have lost more than 200,000 cattle and at least 50 members to cattle rustling, banditry, communal clashes and other security-related attacks between January and September 2026, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has said.
The Kaduna State chapter of MACBAN disclosed this on Sunday at a press conference in Kaduna, where its Chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa, spokesman, Ibrahim Bayero Zango, and other officials outlined the worsening impact of insecurity on pastoralist communities across the state.
The association said the scale of the losses had plunged several pastoralist families into severe economic hardship, with some households allegedly losing their entire means of livelihood.
“From January to this September, over 200,000 cows have been lost,” the association said, stressing that none of the animals had been recovered as of the time of the briefing.
MACBAN attributed the deaths of its members to different forms of insecurity, including communal clashes, attacks involving farmers and killings by bandits during cattle-rustling operations.
“The killings are into two. Some are communal clashes, some are attacks by farmers, some are being killed by bandits in the process of rustling their cows,” the association said.
It added, “Roughly, we can say we lost over 50 people from January to today.”
According to MACBAN, cattle rustling remains one of the most serious threats to pastoralist livelihoods in several parts of Kaduna State.
It identified Kachia, Chikun, Kagarko, Giwa, Igabi, Jama’a, Kaura, Sanga, Jaba, Kudan, Makarfi, Lere, Zangon-Kataf and Kauru among areas affected by cattle rustling and related insecurity.
The group said cattle represented far more than commercial assets for many pastoralist families, describing livestock as a source of livelihood and intergenerational economic security.
“For many cattle breeders, cattle are not only commercial assets. They represent means of sustainable survival to many generations,” MACBAN said.
“The loss of a herd of cattle can therefore push an entire community into severe economic hardship.”
The association said some families affected by the attacks had been forced to abandon locations where they previously engaged in legitimate economic activities.
It therefore urged the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to regard cattle rustling not only as a criminal matter but also as a major economic and livelihood crisis, while ensuring the protection of all law-abiding residents regardless of their occupation.
The association also raised concerns over activities at the recently opened Rijana livestock market in Kachia Local Government Area, located about 48 kilometres along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.
MACBAN said it was concerned about reports and allegations that livestock suspected to have been acquired through criminal means might be entering the market.
However, the association was careful to distinguish its concerns from a blanket accusation against traders and livestock owners operating at the market.
“We are not accusing every trader, livestock owner or participant in the market of involvement in criminal activity,” it said.
Rather, MACBAN called for a comprehensive investigation of activities around the market to prevent it from becoming a destination, transit route or commercial outlet for stolen livestock and criminal networks.
It demanded tighter regulation of the market, proper identification and documentation of livestock, verification of traders and buyers where necessary, and closer cooperation between market authorities, livestock associations and security agencies.
“Any individual found to be involved in cattle rustling, trafficking of stolen livestock or any other criminal activity should face the full weight of the law,” the association said.
MACBAN appealed to the state government to deepen its collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Defence and other security agencies to conduct intelligence-led operations in forests and other identified cattle-rustling hotspots.
It also called for increased security presence along major livestock routes and in vulnerable rural communities.
Beyond security operations, the association urged authorities to establish an effective mechanism for the recovery and return of stolen livestock.
It said victims should be allowed to report stolen animals and provide evidence of ownership through identifying marks, traditional methods and available documentation.
“We believe that recovered livestock should not be allowed to disappear into the system or be resold without proper verification,” MACBAN said.
The association further called on the Kaduna State Government to establish a standing or ad-hoc livestock-loss and victims’ assessment committee to independently document and verify the number of animals lost, families affected and lives lost to cattle rustling, banditry and related insecurity.
It also appealed for government intervention or compensation for genuinely verified victims to enable affected families rebuild their livelihoods.
Despite its concerns, MACBAN commended the administration of Governor Uba Sani for what it described as efforts to sustain peace and security in Kaduna since assuming office in 2023.
The association specifically acknowledged interventions through the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the provision and rehabilitation of rural roads linking farming and livestock-producing communities, and efforts to strengthen and reorganise the Kaduna State Livestock Regulatory Agency.
It also commended the government’s broader agricultural and livestock development initiatives.
“As an association whose members depend almost entirely on livestock production for their livelihoods, we believe that a vibrant agricultural economy must include the protection and development of the livestock sector alongside crop production,” MACBAN said.
The group urged authorities to strengthen security coordination at the local government level and improve intelligence gathering and community-based information sharing involving security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders.
It also called for sustained dialogue between farmers and pastoralists to address recurring conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence.
MACBAN said it remained willing to work with government authorities, farmers’ organisations, traditional institutions and security agencies to develop sustainable solutions to insecurity and conflicts.
The association condemned cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, killings and other criminal activities, insisting that perpetrators should be identified and prosecuted.
“Our position is simple: anyone who steals livestock, kills innocent people, kidnaps citizens or engages in any other criminal activity should be identified and prosecuted according to the law,” it said.
“At the same time, innocent livestock owners and law-abiding pastoral families should not be collectively profiled because of the actions of criminals.”
The association urged its members to remain calm, law-abiding and cooperative with constituted authorities, while supporting peaceful relations with neighbouring communities.
It said its Kaduna chapter remained committed to peace, lawful livestock production and breeding, economic development and peaceful coexistence among communities across the state.
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