Trends of cattle rustling in Northern Nigeria: A new dimension of organized crime in perspective in Bauchi and Plateau States

Abstract

This study examines the trends of cattle rustling in Northern Nigeria as a new dimension of organize crime in perspective in Bauchi and Plateau states. The research adopted strain theory developed by Robert Merton. The study also used cross-sectional research design based on qualitative methods. Purposive sampling technique was used to extract information from the key respondents. Both primary and secondary data were collected. For the primary data, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used as methods of data collection for the study while secondary data were also utilized to complement data gathered from the field. The findings of this study revealed that the cattle rustlers do carry out kidnapping in addition to cattle rustling. The trends of cattle rustling also involved kidnapping where millions of naira were demanded by the rustlers in the form of ransom. Another finding confirmed that some youths have taken rustling as means of survival because it yielded high income. The study concluded that, cattle rustling constituted a serious threat to livestock rearing and contribute to the impoverishment of
rural population. Finally, the study recommends that security agencies should conduct a thorough investigation to unravel the network of cattle rustlers and identify those responsible for the supply of arms, rustling perpetrators, transporting rustled cattle to markets among others.