Katsina Recovers 32,672 Cattle From Rustlers

 

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Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State  says   the dialogue adopted between herdsmen and farmers  initiated by the state government has resulted in the recovery of over 32,672 animals from rustlers  since  2015, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Masari said the intervention had also resulted in the demarcation of over 829.8km of cattle routes across the state.

He  said these at the 2019 NAPRI Open Day organised by the National Animal Production Research Institute  at the institute in Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State, on Monday.

Masari said following  the perennial farmers/herdsmen clashes resulting in loss of lives and property,  his administration decided to establish a committee on cooperation between farmers and herders.

 The governor  said the committee was chaired by a retired management specialist with members drawn from the ministries of agriculture, local government, information and justice.

He said,  “The committee’s mandate includes intervening in farmers-herders misunderstandings, investigating stock/cattle routes encroachment and their demarcation.

“Others are serving ejection notice on encroachers and instituting legal action where necessary and taking custody of reclaimed animals and screening of claimants among others.

“Through the  committee’s efforts, over 32,672 animals were recovered from 2015 till  date.”

Masari said the state government had also established a Dialogue and Amnesty Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the State Government with members drawn from the army, police, Derpatment  of State Services  and  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Also on the committee are the state Attorney General, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Kautal Hore.

Masari said,  “This committee engaged the rustlers in pre-arranged interface at different locations, even in the thick forest.

“In the process, many of them embraced dialogue and agreed to surrender their illegal arms in exchange for an amnesty.

“In the end, these efforts culminated in an epoch event on  January 5, 2017, when numerous repentant rustlers surrendered their illegal arms to my humble self in Kankara, Kankara Local Government Area.”