Cattle Rustling: House Calls For Electronic Animal Identification System

The House of Representatives in Nigeria is urging the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to formulate a policy that would include Electronic Animal Identification System.

Lawmakers believe the identification system will eradicate the problem of cattle rustling.

This resolution followed a motion sponsored by Representative Ali Isa which noted that crimes related to cattle rustling had become more rampant across states.

The lawmaker said it was imperative for the government to consider adopting modern means of capturing, such as the Electronic Animal Identification System, to tackle the menace.

Cattle rustling has been on the increase in some states in the norther part of Nigeria, with troops of the Nigerian Army arresting some rustlers.

In September, troops of the Nigerian Army destroyed hideouts of livestock rustlers and armed bandits in operations military said were tremendously successful.

The feat was in continuation of a clearance operation against all suspected livestock rustlers and armed bandits’ and destruction of their camps and hideouts in Nigeria, especially in the northwest region.

Troops of 223 Battalion, One Brigade of One Division on September 24 raided suspected livestock rustlers and armed bandits’ camps at Tofa forest in Gusau Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.

During the operation, an armed bandit was killed while few others sustained gunshot wounds.

The troops recovered a Dane gun, two locally made pistols and four motorcycles while the camps were destroyed in line with established procedure.

The Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, revealed in a statement on Saturday that the troops also went on a long-range patrol along Dumburum-Batsari forest axis in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State and part of Katsina State.

On October 1, troops of One Division, Nigerian Army conducted clearance operations within Kaduna and Katsina states in continuation with the operations against livestock rustlers, armed bandits and kidnappers within their area of operations.

In Katsina State, the troops carried out a joint patrol at Nashambe village near Karoki in which two suspected livestock rustlers, Lawali Nakaduna and Yahuza Suleiman were arrested in Jibia Local Government Area and handed over to the Police.

The troops also arrested a notorious livestock rustler and armed bandit, Gide Maikwasara, who was shot while attempting to escape.