ABSTRACT
Agriculture
is the major component of the rural economy in Katsina State. Livestock
production is a major component of agricultural activities practised there and
is a source of income and a form of security for farmers. Increasing attacks by
cattle rustlers have disrupted the stability that had been enjoyed by
pastoralists in rural communities within the State. This study, primarily seeks
to critically investigate the Impact of cattle rustling and banditry on the
livelihoods of pastoral communities in Katsina State. These issues are
especially timely, as banditry and herder/farmer conflicts are more frequent, intense,
and consequential than ever before. For this study, the respondents that were
selected for in-depth study and empirical illustrations includes: the chairman
of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in the state and some
elders in the Seven affected LGA in the State. There is growing skepticism over
the cruelty in the military approach embarked upon by the current
administration in combating cattle rustling, which seems analogous to the
intervention used in combating Boko Haram insurgency in the past administration
in Nigeria. Therefore, the time is ripe for the government to generate
participatory policies whereby consultations should take center stage in
finding solutions to cattle rustling and Banditry in the country.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
1.2 Statement
of the Research Problem
1.3 Aims
and Objectives
1.4 Justification
1.5 Scope
and Limitations
1.6 Conceptual
Clarification
1.7 Methodology
1.8 Conclusion
1.9 Notes
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Review of Related Literatures
2.2.1Theoretical framework: Conflict theory
2.3 Conclusion
2.4 Notes
CHAPTER THREE: PASTORAL COMMUNITIES AND LIVELIHOODS IN
KASTINA STATE
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Geographical
Location of Katsina State
3.3 Background
to Pastoral Communities in Katsina State
3.4 Pastoralism
and Economy of Katsina State
3.5 Milking
Maids and Economy of Katsina State
3.6 Conclusion
3.7 Notes
CHAPTER FOUR: CATTLE RUSTLING AND RURAL BANDITRY IN
KATSINA STATE
4.1
Introduction
4.2
Cattle Rustling and Rural Banditry in Katsina State
4.3
Factors Contributing to Cattle Rustling in Katsina State
4.4
Impact of Cattle Rustling and Banditry on Pastoral Livelihoods in Katsina
State
4.5
Conclusion
4.6
Notes
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1
Summary
5.2
Conclusion
5.3
Recommendations
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
Background
Many
parts of Sub Saharan Africa continue to experience violent conflicts that
constrain sustainable food security, livelihoods, and development in the
region. These conflicts are many, complex and occur at different levels. They
can be inter-ethnic, intra-ethnic, or cross border in nature. Excluding
inter-state wars, conflicts in Africa mostly manifest themselves as pastoralist
conflicts (cattle raiding or rustling, violent disputes at watering points,
etc.), highway banditry, abductions, generalized insecurity and other crimes.1Pastoralists reside in over
21 countries across the African continent. Many of these communities are
affected by conflicts, with associated potential impacts on their livelihoods.
Livestock
rearing is one of the major components of agricultural activities performed by
more than two thirds of the world’s rural populace due to its benefit as a
pathway out of poverty.2
Households may sell their livestock and use the proceeds to build or extend
their dwellings or acquire capital equipment for farming purposes. Cattle can be
perceived as capital assets that provide a form of insurance to poor households
that, for various reasons, do not have adequate access to formal financial
services.3 Hence, cattle
possession plays multiple social, economic and religious roles in pastoral
livelihoods, such as providing a regular source of food in the form of milk,
meat and blood for household members, cash income to pay for cereals,
education, health care and other services. In pastoral communities, Cattle is
also essential for payment of dowry, compensation of injured parties during
raids, symbol of prosperity and prestige, store of wealth and security against
drought, disease and other calamities.
Traditionally,
cattle rustling have been driven by criminal intent to expropriate cattle for
meat or sale. In the past, rustlers invaded pastoralist communities with arrows
and spears, but the practice has now evolved into a pattern of organised crime
with immense criminal sophistication, and rustlers have succeeded in building
vast networks that cut across different nationalities.4 Cattle theft has been considered to be an
unconventional means of primitive accumulation of herds in the contexts of
subsistence and commercial pastoralism.5
The incidence of stolen cattle is exacerbated by the great importance attached
to cattle in some rural communities and has escalated due to deficiencies of
traditional forms of identification to aid in tracking and tracing stolen
livestock.6 Cattle
rustling is a perennial problem that now disturbs the Nigerian economy. The
issue is more alarming in northern rural areas, where cattle’s rearing is a
major occupation, and the problem has been complicated by the rising incidence
of farmer-herder conflicts.7
Recently, the wave of cattle rustling in Nigeria has taken the form of massive
village raids, whereby herding communities are attacked and stolen items go
beyond mere livestock. This pattern of attack has recurred throughout the
north-central, north-east and north-west geopolitical zones. However, the
incidence is most pronounced in the Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Zamfara,
Kaduna and Katsina States.
The
vast majority of the rural populace in Katsina State primarily engages in
agricultural production for subsistence and commercial purposes. Livestock
production appears to be second to farming in the ranks of agricultural
activities pursued in the State, and the common species of livestock reared
include cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. In the last decade, the relative normality
and stability enjoyed by cattle production in Nigeria was interrupted by a
vicious cycle of cattle rustling, which has led to a drastic decline in
pastoralist income levels.8
In
Katsina State, pastoral communities have involved in conflicts. In the broadest
sense, conflict can be defined here forceful interaction as a result of
opposing views. As pastoralism revolves around livestock, the conflicts are
predominantly about cattle and its related productive assets - water, land and
pasture. These resources closely tie conflicts to the violent theft of cattle,
referred to as rustling, which are both a contributing factor and an
articulation of conflict. On the one hand, raiding leads to distrust between communities
which are a prerequisite of conflict.9
On the other hand, communities use raiding to articulate their hostility toward
enemy communities.10 Traditionally,
cattle raiding often involved small-scale manageable violence and theft of the
best cattle or replacement of animals lost during periods of droughts or
diseases.
Although
violent conflict is one of the greatest challenges that pastoralists have to
deal with, its influence on pastoral livelihoods in Kastina State has not been adequately
documented. There have been studies e.g. 11
to “Build a community cattle ranch and radio frequency identification (RFID)
technology as alternative methods of curtailing cattle rustling in Katsina
State”, but it has hardly been possible to analyse the challenges posed by violent
conflicts because of the complexity and multidimensional character of the
conflicts in the State under study. This study has provided a useful case to
examine in depth factors contributing to cattle rustling, issues and priorities
for conflict prevention.
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
Pastoral
communities in Katsina State have been involved in cattle rustling and banditry
for some years. The problem of cattle rustling has also been compounded with
other disputes that revolve around ownership of land and resources like water
and pasture. Over the years, these pastoralist regions have suffered a series
of droughts that have seriously threatened the viability of pastoralism as a
way of life.12 These
communities have suffered decades of neglect that have deprived them of the
education, infrastructure and other prerequisites to the diversification of
other livelihood strategies that are not overtly dependent on natural
resources. Internal strife and collapse of state control in these areas have
enabled the proliferation of small arms that have drastically increased the
intensity and impacts of cattle rustling. The peripheries of the counties are
poorly policed and provide safe havens for raiders within the state as well as neighboring
countries such Niger republic.
Cattle
rustling have also visited deep into the emotional and physical status of
residents in these areas who have to live with the wounds of terror, torture
and rape. The destabilization of livelihoods has also altered the interaction
between people and the environment, to the detriment of the latter, and on to
economic and social development of residents.13 Cattle rustling and banditry has caused social and
economic disruptions and an unprecedented loss of livelihoods for poor men,
women and children in the areas. Affected populations have suffered the loss of
means of production, assets, and the means to convert their production to
income. In addition, a large percentage of the few resources generated are
taken up by the purchase of food. Whatever remains is absorbed by conflict
related costs such as security and armament, medical care and education owing
to the collapse of state provision of these services.14 Of particular interest is the impact of livestock rustling
on food security of communities living in area. When animals are stolen, food
prices skyrocket, farm and pasturelands are abandoned and communities
displaced, hunger and malnutrition especially for the young and the aged
becomes a reality. The Nigeria government spends a considerable amount of
security and overall budgets trying to bring a semblance of order to conflict
prone areas. The dilapidating effect of this budget distortion is traceable to
all sectors and areas in the country. To achieve sustainable development in
these areas, conflicts must be conclusively managed. It is in the light of the
above background that this study sought to establish the impact of cattle
rustling and banditry on the livelihoods of people living within the pastoral communities
in Katsina State.
1.3 Aims and Objectives
The
aim of this study was to assess the Impact of cattle rustling and banditry on
the livelihoods of pastoral communities in Katsina State.
Objectives
I.
To determine the factors contributing to
Cattle rustling in Katsina State.
II.
To establish the impact of cattle rustling
and banditry on livelihoods of pastoralist in the affected Local Government.
III.
To identify methods that can be employed
to curtail cattle rustling and banditry in Katsina State.
1.4 Justification of Study
While
consensus exists that cattle rustling as a form of conflict has severe and
adverse effects on pastoralists and rural communities, there is a dearth of
accurate documentation of the extent and precise nature of these effects, and
the causes behind them. The extent of damage to livelihoods, the environment,
people and entire country demand that these dynamics be properly understood and
documented, as the basis for comprehensive and sustainable solutions to violent
conflict in Nigeria. Cattle rustling and banditry is a major issue of concern
among pastoralist communities. The increased attraction of national resources
to this issue indicates that it is a priority area in government and will be
important for the government. The results of this study will provide
information, alerts, caution and given advice to civil society, the government
and non-governmental organisation working in Katsina State in order to take necessary precautions to ensure that the
problem of cattle rustling and banditry is effectively resolved in the affected
communities.
1.5 Scope and Limitations
This
scope of this study is limited to the impact of cattle rustling and banditry on
the livelihoods of pastoralist communities in Katsina State alone; hence the
findings are not generalized to other neighbouring State or Country. The study
was limited to identifying causes and extent of cattle rustling and banditry,
examining the impact of rustling and methods that can be employed to curtail
cattle rustling and banditry in Katsina State. However, to place the study
topic within the wider context and also shed more light to the topic of cattle
rustling, information from other pastoralist communities especially within the
northern region of Nigeria and some African countries was elicited in the
literature review. The recommendations from the study will be used to offer
resolutions of the conflict in Katsina State as well as bringing further
insight on the social, economic and cultural effects of cattle rustling on
livelihoods of the communities living in this area. Insecurity in the area was
also a hindrance factor to data collection in this study. The methodology
employed exposed the researcher at risk of encountering hostile cattle rustlers
in the course of the study. There are bandits in the region who attack cars and
travelers in pursuit of any valuable possessions. Hence, their hostility stood
as a risk to the study.
1.6 Conceptual Clarification
Cattle
rustling and banditry are threatening the existence of pastoral communities in Katsina
State. This may be caused by a number of factors. With the growth of cattle
herds and rise in human population, land resources especially fodder, water and
necessary space for husbandry practice are becoming increasingly scarce,
leading to intense competition and conflicts.
But,
in recent times, banditry has emerged as another important problem. Cattle
rustling involve the use of arms to steal households' entire livestock
possession, thereby threatening the very existence of the affected households
and communities. Conflicts and banditry are closely inter-linked as they are
all forms of social insecurity, characterised by weaknesses in the institutional
capacity of the State to address the problems of insecurity, joblessness and
acute poverty. While conflicts could trigger and cause cattle rustling,
incidences of cattle rustling could also trigger and cause violent conflicts
between pastoral and farming communities.
The
conceptual diagram shows the relationship between causes of cattle rustling/banditry
and effects on pastoralist livelihoods.15
In summary, the strongest causes of raiding in Katsina State are drought,
poverty, payment of dowry, accumulation of wealth. Some key informants linked
these causes to commercialization trends of raiding and political incitement.
However, the main effects of conflicts on the pastoralist livelihoods include
loss of human lives and injuries, loss of animals, closure of schools and
markets, insecurity and distrust among community members.
1.7 Research Methodology
This is descriptive research. This allowed the
researchers to develop the format for data collection from various locations in
order to analyse the research objectives. Data was collected from
six Local Governments in Katsina State where Cattle thefts mainly occur. The
affected LGAs are Sabuwa, Dandume, Danmusa, Safana, Batsari, Faskari and
Kankara. Purposive
sampling technique was adopted to draw out samples from the communities within
the selected LGAs. A guide on the research subject matter was developed to
guide researchers in framing their questions during interactions with potential
informants. The researcher personally visited these locations to collect data. The
informants interviewed included farmers, herders, village heads/chiefs and
security agents. The information gathered was analysed qualitatively,
generating answers to the research objectives.
In each of the settlements, community leaders were
approached to assist in mobilising respondents, and in assigning a community
representative who assisted the researcher in reaching out to individual
respondents in their homesteads. Interviews were conducted face to face, and
with the discussions held in the Hausa Language, but they were recorded in the
interview schedule in English.
Data generated from the survey was complemented by
extensive desk or literature review on the topics of cattle rustling and rural
banditry. The review provided understanding of the global and domestic dynamics
of the problem based on existing research knowledge, and from policy oriented
conferences and workshops. Media tracking and records of cattle rustling and
banditry provided further sources of information. The main limitation of the
research methodology lies in the time constraints and the inability of
researchers to employ qualitative sources such as focus group discussions and
Key Informants Interview (KIs) that would have further enriched findings.
The
significance of morals in research cannot be overstressed; data assemblage is
focused around the expertise of researcher and this consists of the capability
to make inquiries, handle issues being tended to and recognize individual
inclination.16 Potential
particular inclination recognized was about the contextualization of the
research. However, subjecting the research to guidance by senior lecturer
coupled with the author’s resoluteness to stay exceptionally objective helped
to overcome this. As a process of disposing the problem of plagiarism, all the
data utilized was legitimately recognised.
1.8
Conclusion
This
chapter has stated the background, research problem, aims and objectives,
justification of study, scope and limitations of study, conceptual
clarification and methodology of research. The research which is aimed at
assessing the impact of cattle rustling and banditry on livelihoods of pastoral
communities in Katsina State is a descriptive research which was carried out
through a primary and secondary source. Interviews were carried out in the
affected communities to accomplish the objectives of the research work which
was complemented by extensive desk study. The conceptual clarification as
stated by the researcher which shows the relationship between the causes of
cattle rustling/banditry and effects on pastoralist livelihoods, gave a clear
picture on the causes of cattle rustling in Katsina State.
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