Bandits rustle cattle, steal farm produce in Niger

Farming communities of Akare, Tashan Jirgi and adjoining villages in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State have said that dozens of their cattle and food items have been stolen by bandits between Monday and Wednesday.

A resident of the community, Bala Mohammed, said many of them have run to Wushishi town to avoid being kidnapped.

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Daily Trust gathered that the supply of cattle to major markets had reduced due to incessant cattle rustling.

A cattle dealer, Abdulrashid Suleiman, told our correspondent on the telephone that he had stopped the cattle business due to attacks on cattle rearers and rustling.

“I now do menial jobs because we have been attacked several times by rustlers. So, the cattle business is now very risky. Before, I go to almost every cattle market and I supply cattle as far as Lagos. In the Mariga LGA area, for instance, before now, each market day, you will see over 20 trailers loading cattle to other parts of the country but you would hardly see one now,” he said.

Efforts to get the state government’s reaction proved abortive as the commissioner for internal security and humanitarian affairs, Emmanuel Umar, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him.