Niger Govt Introduces New Strategy To Check Cattle Rustling And Banditry

Niger State government said it has introduced new strategies to checkmate the activities of cattle rustlers and bandits in the state.

The State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, while addressing the press yesterday in Minna, the state capital, said the local collection of cattle tax (Dogali) will be reintroduced in the state to tackle banditry and cattle rustling in Niger.

The strategy according to the governor will enable the government to be able to account for the number of cows coming in and out of the state.

“We have devised new strategies to check the activities of bandits and cattle rustlers in the state which I will not divulge here. However, I can tell you that we have had an expanded security meeting recently during which we decided on the introduction of a cattle tax known as Dogali,” Governor Bello said.

The governor, however, was confident that activities of Boko Haram, bandits and other criminal elements have reduced in the state due to synergy amongst security agencies.

He said the general security situation has improved due to renewed synergy between security agencies fighting the war, while attacks by the criminals are no more frequent except in isolated cases.

Speaking further on the new policy, Governor Bello said the traditional institutions in the state would be strengthened while a Committee of Royal Fathers headed by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar will ensure its successful implementation.

The governor commended the security agencies for a job well done in the state in fighting bandits and terrorist groups in the state.

He noted that cattle rustling has also been reduced because the routes through which they steal cows have been blocked. Governor Bello, however, regretted that some of the soldiers lost their lives while performing their official duties in the state.