The local collection of cattle tax, popularly known as “Dogali,” would be restored in Niger State to combat banditry and livestock rustling, according to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
This was announced by the governor at a press conference in Minna yesterday. He also said the program would also provide the government with necessary information on the number of cows in the state and their movements.
“We have devised new strategies to check the activities of bandits and cattle rustlers in the state which I will not divulge here. However, I can tell you that we have had an expanded security meeting recently during which we decided on the introduction of a cattle tax known as Dogali,” he said.
Traditional institutions in the state would be reinforced. A committee of Royal Fathers led by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, would oversee the new policy’s implementation.
Governor Bello also said that owing to collaboration among security services, Boko Haram, bandits, and other criminal groups had significantly curtailed their activity in the state. Criminal assaults are also no longer common, save in exceptional circumstances.
The governor went on to say that cattle rustling has decreased as a result of the closure of routes via which thieves steal cows, and he praised the security services for meeting expectations while mourning that some of them lost their lives.
