Police, Niger Govt Partner to enforce Cattle Market Regulations, Curb Rustling

By Daniel Ebi,Minna

The Niger State Police Command and the Niger State Ministries of Livestock and Nomadic Affairs have agreed to strengthen collaboration on the enforcement of new cattle market regulations.

It was gathered that the partnership is aimed at combating cattle rustling, improving livestock traceability, safeguarding public health and boosting government revenue.

The agreement was reached on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Commissioners for Livestock and Nomadic Affairs, Abdullahi Adamu Mammagi and Umar Ahmad Rebe, to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, at the State Police Command Headquarters in Minna.

Speaking during the meeting, Commissioner for Livestock, Abdullahi Mammagi, said the state government had introduced fresh regulations governing the sale and transportation of livestock as part of efforts to sanitise cattle markets and strengthen security across the livestock value chain.

He explained that under the new framework, every animal transported after purchase must undergo veterinary inspection and be issued an official waybill certifying its origin and health status before movement.

According to him, the measure is designed to improve the traceability of livestock, prevent the movement of stolen animals, guarantee animal health and generate revenue for the state.

Mammagi also noted that the creation of the Ministry of Nomadic Affairs had contributed to reducing conflicts between farmers and herders through sustained stakeholder engagement and dialogue.

He stressed that effective implementation of the new policy would require close collaboration with security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Nomadic Affairs, Umar Ahmad Rebe, commended the Police Command for its continued support to the ministry and its efforts in addressing security challenges affecting pastoral communities across the state.

Responding, the Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to enforcing all lawful regulations introduced by the state government.

He said proper verification of the origin of livestock, profiling of buyers and sellers, and documentation of transactions would strengthen security, discourage cattle rustling and promote legitimate livestock trading.

The police commissioner further observed that mandatory veterinary certification would not only protect consumers by ensuring healthy animals entered the food chain but would also enhance internally generated revenue for the state.

Elleman assured the two ministries of the Police Command’s full cooperation in enforcing the new regulations and tackling cattle theft across Niger State.

The new measures are expected to tighten controls within cattle markets, improve accountability in livestock transportation and support the state’s broader efforts to promote peaceful coexistence between farming and pastoral communities while strengthening the livestock economy.