PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MITIGATION STRATEGIES AGAINST CATTLE RUSTLING IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study identifies the problems associated with mitigation practices, strategies against cattle rustling, describe socio-economic and institutional characteristics of herdsmen in Kaduna State. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 276 herdsmen selected through the multistage sampling method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, minimum and maximum). The result showed that the age of herdsmen was 47 years, average household size of 10 people and herding experience of 15 years. The results revealed that inadequate grazing reserves (84.4%), insufficient means of mobility (74.3%) and the failure of herdsmen to work collectively (66. 3%) were the major problems associated with mitigation strategies against cattle rustling in the study area. State Government should ensure all the grazing reserves and routes stock for Fulani cattle grazing should be well preserved and utilised by herdsmen, effective joint police and soldiers patrol along the grazing reserve and route stock to protect herdsmen and their cattle to reduce the roaming about and migration of herdsmen

to dangerous area of cattle rustling were some of the recommendations