THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS OF CATTLE RUSTLING IN GUSAU LOCAL GOVERNMENT ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study dwells on the recent upsurge of the problem of Cattle rustling in Gusau Local Government in Zamfara State, Nigeria. The acts which is one of the different forms of rural banditry, involves attacking rural communities with dangerous weapons and the stealing of their livestock by the gang of cattle rustlers. These result in the indiscriminate killings of innocent livestock owners, farmers, rural traders, vigilante group members, rape and abduction of young girls and married women and burning of hamlets/settlements by the various gang of cattle rustlers operating in the affected areas .Consequently, this resulted in mass migration of innocent rural dwellers out of the conflict areas of Gusau to more safer regions. Negatively this has affected the area economically and undermined the social fabric of the rural communities.In addition, the study also examined the reasons for the recent upsurge of cattle rustling in the affecteddistricts The research used the Queer ladder theoryand for analysis of the functional significance of organised crime as a means for socioeconomic empowerment and social climbing Dahrendorf’s theoretical model of conflict to demonstrate the impact of authority relations that precipitate the conflict. Data were collected using survey method with a sample of 100 respondents while ten(10) key informant interviews were conducted with the stakeholders that include police officers, local vigilante, NGOs, civil defence corps, and community leaders making a total of 110. The findings indicated that the upsurge in cattle rustling could be attributed to factors that include the proliferation of firearms among the Fulani herdsmen, activities of the rural vigilante groups, influence of violent culture, lack of adequate or complete absence of security personnel in the affected districts. As a way forward the research recommends that, the government should as a matter of urgency embark on comprehensive disarmaments of all parties involved, and adequate security to be immediately provided to the affected communities and other vulnerable areas prone to attack and generally uplift the standard of living of the people.