3 - Cows, Cash and Terror: How Cattle Rustling Proceeds Fuel Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria
Corresponding Author(s) : Al Chukwuma Okoli
Africa Development,
Vol. 44 No. 2 (2019): Africa Development: Special Issue on Money, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa (II)
Abstract
This study explores the nexus between cattle rustling and the Boko Haram insurgency by way of ascertaining how proceeds from the former is used to fund the latter. By means of secondary research, predicated on the theory of terrorism financing the article argues that material and financial proceeds from cattle rustling have been deployed to fund and sustain Boko Haram operations. The study underscores the strategic implications of cattle rustling as a veritable source of terrorism financing, and contends that dismantling cattle rustling infrastructure (the sources, syndicates, networks, markets, routes, transits, etc.) is key to counter-insurgency efforts in Nigeria.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Adogi, M., 2013, Fulani–farmers Conflicts in Nasarawa State: The Ecology, Population and Politics, Abuja: Murry Greens Consult.
- Alemika, E.O., ed., 2013, The Impact of Organised Crime on Governance in West Africa, Abuja: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
- Bagu, C. and Smith, K., 2017, Past Is Prologue: Criminality and Reprisal Attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Washington, DC: Search for Common Ground.
- Bloemkolk, I.C., 2014, ‘The European fight against the financing for terrorism: a study of the European Union’s Third AML/CFT Directive’, BA thesis, University of Twente.
- Channels Television, 2016, Feature, 4 March.
- Cheserek, G.J., Omondi, P. and Odenyo, V.A.O., 2012, ‘Nature and causes of cattle rustling among some pastoral communities in Kenya’,Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences 3 (2): 173–9.
- Congressional Research Service, 2016, Nigeria’s Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions, Washington, DC: Washington Congressional Service.
- Copenhagen Centre for Development Research, 2004, A Human Security Perspective on Natural Resource Conflict and Rural Development, Copenhagen Centre for Development Research, University of Copenhagen, April.
- Crime Prevention on Farms, n.d., ‘Livestock theft’, Fact Sheet No. 8, University of New England, Australia.
- DoD-US, n.d, ‘Insurgents vs. guerrillas vs. terrorists’, US Military Academy Training Manual Document, Washington, DC, Department of Defence.
- EAPCCO, 2008, Protocol on the Prevention, Combating and Eradication of Cattle Rustling in Eastern Africa, a publication of the Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO),August.
- Egwu, S.,2016,‘The Political Economy of Rural Banditry in Contemporary Nigeria’, inM.J. Kuna and J. Ibrahim, eds, Rural Banditry and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, Abuja: Centre for Democracy and Development.
- FATF-GIABA-GA, 2016, Terrorism financing inWest Africa and Central Africa, Paris: FATF, October, available: www.fatf-gafi.org/puplications/methodsondtrends/documents/terrorist-financing-west-centra-africa.html, accessed 19 July 2017.
- Freeman, M., 2011, ‘The sources of terrorism financing: theory and typology’, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 34: 461–75.
- Ibrahim, S.S., 2012, ‘Islamic stance on terrorism: the accusation and the truth’, KASU Journal of Social Sciences 4(1): 91–104.
- Jesperson, S., 2017, Conflict Obscuring Criminality: The Crime–conflict Nexus in Nigeria, Crime-conflict Nexus Series, No. 4, May, United Nation’s University (Centre for Policy Research).
- Khisa, C., 2017, ‘No Magic bullet for cattle rustling’, The Star, 8 February, p.23.
- Kuna, M.J.,and Ibrahim, J., eds, Rural Banditry and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, Abuja: Centre for Democracy and Development.
- Kwaja, C., 2014, ‘Blood, cattle and cash: cattle rustling and Nigeria’s bourgeoning underworld economy’, West African Insight4 (3): 1–6.
- Liolio, E.S., 2013, ‘Rethinking counterinsurgency: a case study of Boko Haram in Nigeria’, MA thesis submitted to the European Peace University, Australia.
- Malnekoff, E., 2013, ‘Cattle smuggling from India to Bangladesh’, A thesis, Western Michigan University.
- Mockaitis, T.R., 2012, ‘Revolving insurgencies’, June, The Strategic Studies Institute, USA.
- Mohammed, S.A., 2016, Farmers–pastoralist conflicts in Nigeria: case studies of Dansadau, Sabuwa and Birnin Gwari communities of Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna States, Pilot CEDDERT Seminar, Zaria, September.
- Obaji, P., 2017, ‘How Boko Haram makes cash from stolen cattle’, http://venuesafrica.com/boko-haram-makes-cash-from-stolen-cattleJanuary, accessed 18 July 2017.
- Okoli, A.C., 2014, ‘Commercialism and commodification of illicity: a political economy of baby buying/selling in South East Nigeria’, International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 2(2): 77–85.
- Okoli, A.C. and Atelhe, G., 2014, ‘Nomads against natives: a political ecology of farmer/ herder conflicts in Nasarawa State, Nigeria’, American International Journal of Contemporary Research 4(2): 76–88.
- Okoli, A.C. and Okpaleke, F.N., 2014a, ‘Banditry and crisis of public safety in Nigeria: issues in national security strategics’, European Scientific Journal 10(4): 350–62.
- Okoli, A.C. and Okpaleke, F.N., 2014b, ‘Cattle rustling and dialectics of security in northern Nigeria’, International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 2(3): 109–17.
- Okoli, A.C. and Iortyer, P., 2014, ‘Terrorism and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria: insights from Boko Haram insurgency’, Global Journal of Human Social Science: F (Political Science) 14(1.0): 39–49.
- Okoli, A.C., 2016, ‘Pastoral Transhumance and Dynamics of Social Conflicts in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria’, in M.J. Kuna and J. Ibrahim, eds, Rural Banditry and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, Abuja: Centre for Democracy and Development.
- Okoli, A.C. and Ochim, F.I., 2016, ‘Forestlands and national security in Nigeria: a threat-import analysis’, IIARD International Journal of Political and Administrative Studies 2(2): 68–74.
- Okoli, A.C., 2017, ‘Nigeria: volunteer vigilantism and counter-insurgency in the North- East’, Conflict Studies Quarterly 20: 34–55.
- Olaniyan, A. and Yahaya, A., 2016, ‘Cows, bandits and violent conflicts: understanding cattle rustling in Northern Nigeria’, Africa Spectrum 3: 93–105.
- Olaniyan, A., 2017, ‘Foliage and criminality: interrogating forest reserves as security threats in Nigeria’, unpublished manuscript.
- Omeje, K., 2007, ‘The Diasporas and domestic insurgencies’, African Sociological Review 11 (2): 94–107.
- Onuoha, F.C., 2011, ‘Countering the financing of Boko Haram extremism in Nigeria’,African Journal for Prevention and Combating Terrorism2(1): 89–121.
- Onuoha, F.C., 2012, ‘From Ahlulsunna wal’jama’ah hijra to Jama’atu Ahlissunnah lidda’awati wal Jihad: the evolutionary phases of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria’, Africa Insight 41 (4): 173.
- Onuoha, F.C., 2017, Collaboration in Countering Boko Haram’s Financing Operations in the Lake Chad Area: Charting the Roles of Special Operations Forces, paper presented at Exercise Flintlock 2017 Senior Leaders Seminar, organised by the Special Operations Command – Africa (SOCAFRICA), Special Operations Command Forward – North and West Africa (SOCFWD-NWA), and the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) at Ledger Hotel, N’Djamena, Chad, 28 February–2 March.
- Premium Times, 2017, ‘600 herdsmen killed, two million cattle rustled in two years-Miyetti Allah’, http://ww.prermiumtimasng.com/news/headlines/229604-600-herdsmen-killed-two-million-cattle-rustled-two-years-miyetti-allah.html, July, accessed 16 July 2017.
- RCSA, n.d ., Regional Report on the Nexus between Illicit SALW Proliferation and Cattle Rustling; Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda, Regional Centre on Small Arms (RCSA), Ethiopia.
- Rufai, M.A., 2016, ‘The role of vigilante groups in the fight against rural banditry in Zamfara State, North-Western Nigeria’, draft paper, Department of History, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Nigeria.
- SB Morgen, 2016, A Look at Nigeria’s Security Situation, December, SB Morgen.
- Shalangwa, M.W., 2013, ‘The nature and consequences of armed banditry in border communities of Adamawa State, Nigeria’, MSc thesis submitted to Ahmadu Bellow University, Zaria.
- Tar, U.A. and Shettima, A.G., 2008, ‘Farmer–pastoralist conflict in West Africa: exploring the causes and consequences’, Information, Society and Justice 1 (2): 163–84.
References
Adogi, M., 2013, Fulani–farmers Conflicts in Nasarawa State: The Ecology, Population and Politics, Abuja: Murry Greens Consult.
Alemika, E.O., ed., 2013, The Impact of Organised Crime on Governance in West Africa, Abuja: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
Bagu, C. and Smith, K., 2017, Past Is Prologue: Criminality and Reprisal Attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Washington, DC: Search for Common Ground.
Bloemkolk, I.C., 2014, ‘The European fight against the financing for terrorism: a study of the European Union’s Third AML/CFT Directive’, BA thesis, University of Twente.
Channels Television, 2016, Feature, 4 March.
Cheserek, G.J., Omondi, P. and Odenyo, V.A.O., 2012, ‘Nature and causes of cattle rustling among some pastoral communities in Kenya’,Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences 3 (2): 173–9.
Congressional Research Service, 2016, Nigeria’s Boko Haram: Frequently Asked Questions, Washington, DC: Washington Congressional Service.
Copenhagen Centre for Development Research, 2004, A Human Security Perspective on Natural Resource Conflict and Rural Development, Copenhagen Centre for Development Research, University of Copenhagen, April.
Crime Prevention on Farms, n.d., ‘Livestock theft’, Fact Sheet No. 8, University of New England, Australia.
DoD-US, n.d, ‘Insurgents vs. guerrillas vs. terrorists’, US Military Academy Training Manual Document, Washington, DC, Department of Defence.
EAPCCO, 2008, Protocol on the Prevention, Combating and Eradication of Cattle Rustling in Eastern Africa, a publication of the Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO),August.
Egwu, S.,2016,‘The Political Economy of Rural Banditry in Contemporary Nigeria’, inM.J. Kuna and J. Ibrahim, eds, Rural Banditry and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, Abuja: Centre for Democracy and Development.
FATF-GIABA-GA, 2016, Terrorism financing inWest Africa and Central Africa, Paris: FATF, October, available: www.fatf-gafi.org/puplications/methodsondtrends/documents/terrorist-financing-west-centra-africa.html, accessed 19 July 2017.
Freeman, M., 2011, ‘The sources of terrorism financing: theory and typology’, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 34: 461–75.
Ibrahim, S.S., 2012, ‘Islamic stance on terrorism: the accusation and the truth’, KASU Journal of Social Sciences 4(1): 91–104.
Jesperson, S., 2017, Conflict Obscuring Criminality: The Crime–conflict Nexus in Nigeria, Crime-conflict Nexus Series, No. 4, May, United Nation’s University (Centre for Policy Research).
Khisa, C., 2017, ‘No Magic bullet for cattle rustling’, The Star, 8 February, p.23.
Kuna, M.J.,and Ibrahim, J., eds, Rural Banditry and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, Abuja: Centre for Democracy and Development.
Kwaja, C., 2014, ‘Blood, cattle and cash: cattle rustling and Nigeria’s bourgeoning underworld economy’, West African Insight4 (3): 1–6.
Liolio, E.S., 2013, ‘Rethinking counterinsurgency: a case study of Boko Haram in Nigeria’, MA thesis submitted to the European Peace University, Australia.
Malnekoff, E., 2013, ‘Cattle smuggling from India to Bangladesh’, A thesis, Western Michigan University.
Mockaitis, T.R., 2012, ‘Revolving insurgencies’, June, The Strategic Studies Institute, USA.
Mohammed, S.A., 2016, Farmers–pastoralist conflicts in Nigeria: case studies of Dansadau, Sabuwa and Birnin Gwari communities of Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna States, Pilot CEDDERT Seminar, Zaria, September.
Obaji, P., 2017, ‘How Boko Haram makes cash from stolen cattle’, http://venuesafrica.com/boko-haram-makes-cash-from-stolen-cattleJanuary, accessed 18 July 2017.
Okoli, A.C., 2014, ‘Commercialism and commodification of illicity: a political economy of baby buying/selling in South East Nigeria’, International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 2(2): 77–85.
Okoli, A.C. and Atelhe, G., 2014, ‘Nomads against natives: a political ecology of farmer/ herder conflicts in Nasarawa State, Nigeria’, American International Journal of Contemporary Research 4(2): 76–88.
Okoli, A.C. and Okpaleke, F.N., 2014a, ‘Banditry and crisis of public safety in Nigeria: issues in national security strategics’, European Scientific Journal 10(4): 350–62.
Okoli, A.C. and Okpaleke, F.N., 2014b, ‘Cattle rustling and dialectics of security in northern Nigeria’, International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 2(3): 109–17.
Okoli, A.C. and Iortyer, P., 2014, ‘Terrorism and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria: insights from Boko Haram insurgency’, Global Journal of Human Social Science: F (Political Science) 14(1.0): 39–49.
Okoli, A.C., 2016, ‘Pastoral Transhumance and Dynamics of Social Conflicts in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria’, in M.J. Kuna and J. Ibrahim, eds, Rural Banditry and Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, Abuja: Centre for Democracy and Development.
Okoli, A.C. and Ochim, F.I., 2016, ‘Forestlands and national security in Nigeria: a threat-import analysis’, IIARD International Journal of Political and Administrative Studies 2(2): 68–74.
Okoli, A.C., 2017, ‘Nigeria: volunteer vigilantism and counter-insurgency in the North- East’, Conflict Studies Quarterly 20: 34–55.
Olaniyan, A. and Yahaya, A., 2016, ‘Cows, bandits and violent conflicts: understanding cattle rustling in Northern Nigeria’, Africa Spectrum 3: 93–105.
Olaniyan, A., 2017, ‘Foliage and criminality: interrogating forest reserves as security threats in Nigeria’, unpublished manuscript.
Omeje, K., 2007, ‘The Diasporas and domestic insurgencies’, African Sociological Review 11 (2): 94–107.
Onuoha, F.C., 2011, ‘Countering the financing of Boko Haram extremism in Nigeria’,African Journal for Prevention and Combating Terrorism2(1): 89–121.
Onuoha, F.C., 2012, ‘From Ahlulsunna wal’jama’ah hijra to Jama’atu Ahlissunnah lidda’awati wal Jihad: the evolutionary phases of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria’, Africa Insight 41 (4): 173.
Onuoha, F.C., 2017, Collaboration in Countering Boko Haram’s Financing Operations in the Lake Chad Area: Charting the Roles of Special Operations Forces, paper presented at Exercise Flintlock 2017 Senior Leaders Seminar, organised by the Special Operations Command – Africa (SOCAFRICA), Special Operations Command Forward – North and West Africa (SOCFWD-NWA), and the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) at Ledger Hotel, N’Djamena, Chad, 28 February–2 March.
Premium Times, 2017, ‘600 herdsmen killed, two million cattle rustled in two years-Miyetti Allah’, http://ww.prermiumtimasng.com/news/headlines/229604-600-herdsmen-killed-two-million-cattle-rustled-two-years-miyetti-allah.html, July, accessed 16 July 2017.
RCSA, n.d ., Regional Report on the Nexus between Illicit SALW Proliferation and Cattle Rustling; Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda, Regional Centre on Small Arms (RCSA), Ethiopia.
Rufai, M.A., 2016, ‘The role of vigilante groups in the fight against rural banditry in Zamfara State, North-Western Nigeria’, draft paper, Department of History, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Nigeria.
SB Morgen, 2016, A Look at Nigeria’s Security Situation, December, SB Morgen.
Shalangwa, M.W., 2013, ‘The nature and consequences of armed banditry in border communities of Adamawa State, Nigeria’, MSc thesis submitted to Ahmadu Bellow University, Zaria.
Tar, U.A. and Shettima, A.G., 2008, ‘Farmer–pastoralist conflict in West Africa: exploring the causes and consequences’, Information, Society and Justice 1 (2): 163–84.