In a significant move to restore hope and prosperity to its citizens, the Zamfara Government has successfully returned 3,000 rustled animals to their rightful owners over the past 15 months. This achievement is a direct result of the collaborative efforts between the government and security forces, who have been working tirelessly to combat cattle rustling in the state. According to Sheikh Sa’idu Maikwano, Chairman of the Committee on the Verification of Recovered Rustled Animals, the returned animals include cows, sheep, goats, and other livestock.
The committee’s success can be attributed to the effective supervision of the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, and the support of Governor Dauda Lawal. The committee chairman expressed his gratitude to both leaders for their role in facilitating the committee’s work. The recovery of the rustled animals is a major milestone in the government’s efforts to address the issue of cattle rustling, which has plagued the state for years.
In addition to the recovery of the animals, the committee also generated N120 million from the auction of overstayed animals. This amount was remitted into the state Zakkat Board account, in line with established rules and guidelines. The Secretary to the State Government reiterated the government’s commitment to returning all recovered animals to their rightful owners, praising the committee’s efforts in discharging its duties effectively. He emphasized the importance of the committee’s assignment, stating that it “strives to give hope to the hopeless victims who lost their wealth to heartless cattle rustlers.”
The meeting between the committee chairman and the Secretary to the State Government was aimed at strategizing more effective and efficient ways to achieve the committee’s objectives. The discussion focused on building on the successes achieved so far, particularly in light of the security forces’ intensified offensive clearance operations across the state. Governor Lawal’s administration has been working to foster community resilience and promote social justice, with the ultimate goal of achieving amicable conflict resolution. The return of the rustled animals is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and the government remains committed to supporting the committee’s efforts to bring relief to victims of cattle rustling.
