Fulani herders in Kaduna count losses as armed cattle rustlers raid Igabi community
By: Zagazola Makama
A renewed wave of insecurity has hit rural communities in Kaduna State, following a brazen night attack on a Fulani settlement in Dutsen Mai village, Igabi Local Government Area, by heavily armed cattle rustlers.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the attack, which occurred at about 10:00 p.m. on Monday, has left residents reeling in shock, as scores of cattle were carted away under the cover of darkness by an unspecified number of attackers wielding sophisticated weapons.
Yusuf Abdullahi, a resident of the area, was among the first to raise the alarm. He told the police that the assailants struck without warning, firing sporadically to scare off herders before herding the stolen livestock into the nearby forest.
The stolen cattle are said to belong to prominent pastoralists in the area, including Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, and Usman Isiya, all residents of Dutsen Mai.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA with other security forces, upon receiving the distress call around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, promptly mobilized his patrol team. Working in synergy, they launched a search operation, cordoning off adjoining bushes and suspected hideouts to trail the rustlers.
Although the number of cattle stolen is yet to be officially confirmed, eyewitnesses estimate the figure to be in the dozens, dealing a significant blow to the livelihoods of the affected families.
“This is not just theft; this is an attack on our way of life,” lamented a relative of one of the victims. “Cattle are everything to us our wealth, our pride, our survival. Now they are gone.”
The Kaduna State Police Command says it has intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen animals.
“We are leaving no stone unturned. Our tactical teams are in the bush and the search is ongoing,” a senior officer who preferred anonymity said. We are also working closely with vigilante groups and local intelligence sources.”
Cattle rustling remains a persistent threat across northwestern Nigeria, often feeding into larger security challenges such as armed banditry, communal conflicts, and forced displacement.
