Fulani herdsmen in Kaduna State have cried out over increasing cattle rustling in recent times.
The herdsmen said in less than three months, over 11,571 cattle were stolen by rustlers in 4 local government areas of Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia and Igabi.
According to them, the rustlers always moved around with all sorts of ammunitions, including AK-47 and rocket launchers, making it impossible for an ordinary herdsman to confront them.
Addressing newsmen when they paid a visit the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Kaduna on Monday, State Secretary of Gam-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, GAFDAN, Bature Dauji, explained that some of their members were being killed by the rustlers.
“They have killed so many of our members in the process, with both gun shots and physical attack. Every day our members who are grazing in the field always come to us with bulk of complaints.
“We are calling on the Kaduna state governor to intervene. Although the government is trying, but we want him to give attention to other herdsmen outside Birnin Gwari.
“Despite their efforts, the rustling is still increasing. The Fulanis in those areas are not seeing much of government’s effort, we are not saying they are not doing anything but we don’t seems to see what they are doing,” he explained.
Bature added that the rustlers cut across different tribes, including Fulanis, stressing “it is not which tribe they belong to, they are all criminals and government needs to help us in fighting them.”
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