The Kaduna State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) revealed on Sunday, September 13, 2026, that pastoralists in the state have lost over 200,000 cattle and at least 50 members to violent attacks and insecurity between January and September 2026.
​The association disclosed the figures during a joint press conference held in Kaduna, addressed by the MACBAN Kaduna State Chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa, and the chapter’s Director of Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Bayero-Zango. ​
Speaking on behalf of the association, officials detailed that the persistent wave of banditry, cattle rustling, communal clashes, and farmer-herder conflicts has devastated pastoralist households across several local government areas. ​”From January to this September, over 200,000 cows have been lost, and none have been recovered out of this figure,” the association stated. ​
Addressing the casualties among their members, the leadership clarified that deaths stemmed from multiple violence vectors. “The killings are into two.
Some are communal clashes, some are attacks by farmers, and some are being killed by bandits in the process of rustling their cows. Roughly, we can say we lost over 50 people from January to today,” the leadership added. ​
The association listed several local government areas severely impacted by rustling and insecurity, including Kachia, Chikun, Kagarko, Jama’a, Kaura, Sanga, Jaba, Zangon-Kataf, and Kauru. Northern & Western Zones: Giwa, Igabi, Kudan, Makarfi, and Lere. ​
MACBAN emphasized that for pastoralists, livestock is not merely a commercial asset but a multi-generational means of sustainable survival. The loss of entire herds has pushed hundreds of families into severe economic hardship, forcing many to flee their traditional grazing areas. ​
To mitigate the crisis, the leadership of MACBAN called on the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to implement immediate measures such as:- Security Operations: Conduct joint, intelligence-led operations with the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and other security units inside forest reserves and key criminal hotspots.
Victims’ Assessment Committee: Establish an ad-hoc or standing committee to officially document and verify lost livestock, affected families, and human casualties. Market Regulation:
Tighten surveillance at livestock markets to prevent rustled cattle from being commercialised and sustained collaboration with local traditional rulers, farmers’ organizations, and security agencies to foster peaceful coexistence. ​
The association reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful livestock production, lawful economic activities, and constructive dialogue to end rural insecurity in Kaduna State.
