Abstract

A survey study was conducted on the consequences of cattle rustling in Zamfara State and its impact on the Nigerian leather industry. The survey enrolled 390 consented respondents for the study. A self-constructed and validated questionnaire was administered to the respondents, and the responses were compiled and statistically analysed. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentages and mean scores. Also, inferential statistics such as the Relative Importance Index (RII) and Z-test were used to examine the effect of cattle rustling on rural livelihood and the consequences of low provision of hides and skin to leather industries. The findings of the sociodemographic information revealed that the majority of the respondents are males 62.7%, with females recording 37.3%, with a high frequency of 44% among respondents of age range 25 to 30 years, with the least frequency of 9.4% among the age range of 45 to 54years. The majority, 53.2% of the respondents, are married, with a few 6.6% widowed. Most 22.5% are farmers, with no formal education, 38.2%. Most 27.5% of the respondents reported a monthly income of less than N10,000. The major occurrence of 62.1% of cattle rustling episodes recorded affected more than 50 victims at a time, thereby crippling the investment of the victims and drastically reducing the frequency of producing hides and skin for leather industries. Some animals, even after being retrieved, their skin must have become damaged with fungal and parasitic infestations due to poor management of the animals by the rustlers. There is a significant difference between all the variables observed before and during cattle rustling at a P-value of less than 0.05. Cattle rustling has a direct negative effect on the activities of leather industries because the daily output of hides is reduced, thereby affecting the productivity of the leather industries. It is recommended that there should be regular surveillance around the affected communities, which will enable a track of the location of the rustlers.