Armed bandits wielding sophisticated weapons have attacked Kasuwar Daji market in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, rustling over 500 cattle.

The incident was disclosed by the state chairman of the Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Comrade Aminu Garba, who said similar attacks had been occurring for more than four years.

“We have been experiencing similar unfortunate incidents for over four years,” he said.

According to him, the bandits were suspected to have infiltrated the market and surrounding villages during the daytime, monitoring activities and transactions involving livestock buyers.

He further stated that the rustled cattle were purchased from multiple markets, including animals brought in from the Niger Republic, and were assembled at Kasuwar Daji, the largest animal market in the area.

“Normally, we purchase animals every Wednesday up to Kasuwar Daji market day before boarding trucks to Lagos,” he said.

Garba added that the bandits rustled the cattle and fled towards the western part of Kasuwar Daji village.

“The bandits came in large numbers and they were carrying sophisticated weapons. They operated at night and later moved towards the western part of the market because that area leads into the forest, and the market is not fenced,” he said.

One of the victims, Alhaji Umar Mohammad, said the bandits were more than 100 in number.

He pointed out that the rustled animals belonged to livestock breeders popularly known as ‘Yantugu’ in Hausa.

He added that about 60 animals out of the total number were later recovered.

“As you know, it is very difficult to control large animals in such a chaotic situation. The ones that were returned were those that scattered during the operation,” he said.

This medium gathered that security operatives are stationed less than 200 metres from the market.

It was also learnt that there was no security response until after the bandits had gone with the animals.