By Sufyan Lawal Kabo

Introduction

About 23 members of the Kaduna state chapter of the Fulbe umbrella body organization Miyetti Allah, participated in the workshop on Using Social Media to Fight Cattle rustling. The participants were drawn from some rearing areas of Kaduna state namely Chikuri, Buruku, Brnin Gwari, Kagarko, Kachia and Chukum.  These are areas where cattle rustling enigma worsened. Held on 28th June 2015 at Aso Motel along Muhammadu Buhari Way Kaduna, the workshop was organized by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from MacArthur Foundation.

The objectives of the workshop:

1. To sensitize participants to the use of social media in reporting and tracking cattle rustling
2. To initiate a network of  volunteers for tracking and rescuing rustled cattle
3. To brief the participants on the Cattle Rustling Information System (CaTRIS) that CITAD is developing to document, track and help to rescue cattle from rustlers.

The workshop

During the workshop, the participants were taken into a background presentation on the case study which is Cattle rustling and the consequences they come with which includes loss of lives, conflicts, increase in spade of violence in the country etc, then a discussion on the need for the creation of a national framework to address the problem.

CITAD’s Media Officer Sufyan Lawal Kabo further extended to the participants CITAD’s plan on initiating the Cattle Rustling Information System (CaTRIS). The CaTRIS which involve geo-mapping of cattle tracks and grazing reserves on the Ushashidi platform will allow victims to send in information using either text message, whatspps or other forms of social media to the network control centre, which will then broadcast the information using various channels to a network of volunteers who would volunteer to help in locating the rustled cattle. Since the information is geo-referenced, volunteers will have instantaneous idea of where the rustling had taken place and with a geo-mapped of the routes will know the likely routes that the rustles will take in the neighborhood. The system is also going to work with shared codes for people do not know how to write to send in reports using codes and symbols.

The objectives of CaTRIS are:

• To provide rearers with training on use ICTs to send or receive alerts on rustling attempts
• To provide cattle rearers with reporting mechanism should their cattle be taken
• Provide an alert system to provide information to volunteers who will help in tracking stolen cattle
• To document cases of cattle rustling so that we can have a robust database for advocacy purposes
• Provide rearers with the training on use of modern tools that will help in tracking stolen cattle etc.

CITAD’s Peace Clubs Officer, Malam Kamila Isa facilitated the next presentation which was a hands-on training on use of Whataspp for reporting cattle rustling. He started by providing a list of lit handset that could download the apps and install; thereafter he assisted some of the participations to install the application in their handset. He then took them through setting up their personal accounts and then making post. During the exercise, Kamilu Isa introduced them to Moftal Fulbe, a Whatzapp group that was earlier created during the Zamfara workshop on Using Social Media to Fight Cattle Rustling held on 11th of June 2015 (See www.citad.org)   Instantly, some of the participants that are already on Whatzapp joined the group and those with smartphones were taught how they can subscribe to the application and he as well illustrate to them various ways in which the herders could share information as well as report cattle rustling.

The next item was training on use of simple codes to send alert/tracking messages unto a database for others to see and take quick actions on rustling attempts or if their cattle are eventually rustled. CITAD came up with this considering the fact that except a few Fulbe youths, most cattle rearers barely use smartphones that supports applications like Whatzapp. The session was practiced and after a deliberation, some codes were suggested to use as symbols of alerts and for tracking.

Lastly, an interactive session was held. In it the participants narrated different ordeals of the cattle rustling incidences they experienced. Such were:

• A large number of cattle were rustled from the Fulani in most cattle rearing areas of Kaduna state.
• Rustlers have now instigated the act of abducting women during their raids.
• For over five years, herdsmen living in most rearing communities sleep with one of their eyes open for fear of sudden attacks by rustlers.
• The cattle rustlers arm themselves with sophisticated weapons and walk freely in towns, rearing communities chanting threats.
• The few security agents that government use to deploy barely go to the hot zones where cattle rustling occur. They only hang in towns and threaten innocent people.
• Security agencies especially the Police are doing nothing to combat the phenomenon. Rather, they are using it as opportunity to extort money from cattle rustling victims. There are cases where these agents detain Funalis who report such cases to them and until they collect huge amount of money from their family members, they barely release them.
• The mystery of cattle rustling cannot be handled by Hardos (Fulani leaders) and Fulbe organizations. It requires the core interference of the state and federal government.
• Cattle rustling culture is gradually diminishing as most Fulanis are now abandoning it due to fear.

They recommend that:

1. Government interference in cattle rustling phenomenon should go beyond sending handful security agents to combat cattle rustling paradox
2. Government should work hand in hand with Fulbe organizations in combatting cattle rustling in the region.
3. Fulbe organizations and other volunteer groups should organize a peaceful demonstration for government to interfere in their plights.
4. CSOs to mobilize the Fulani to form organizations and interactive forums that will comprise their fellow rearers and leaders in assisting each other especially on security issue

By Sufyan Lawal Kabo

The second workshop on the training on use of Social Media for reporting cattle rustling was held at Old Central Office behind Emir’s palace, Emir’s Drive, Azare, Bauchi state on 17th of June 2015. The second of the series as well held for Fulbe organizations, field cattle rearers, Hardos (Fulani leaders), community leaders etc. It was attended by representatives from various Fulbe organizations across Bauchi state. These include:

• Members of Fulbe Development Association of Nigeria
• Miyetti Allah
• Fulbe Youth

The workshop started with a background presentation on Using Social Media to Fight Cattle Rustling was taken by CITAD’s Media Officer Malam Sufyan Lawal Kabo. In it, the phenomenon of cattle rustling was presented alongside the Cattle Rustling Information System (CaTRIS).

The objectives of CaTRIS are:

• To provide rearers with training on use ICTs to send or receive alerts on rustling attempts
• To provide cattle rearers with reporting mechanism should their cattle be taken
• Provide an alert system to provide information to volunteers who will help in tracking stolen cattle
• To document cases of cattle rustling so that we can have a robust database for advocacy purposes
• Provide rearers with the training on use of modern tools that will help in tracking stolen cattle etc

The CaTRIS which involves geo-mapping of cattle tracks and grazing reserves on the Ushashidi platform will allow victims to send in information using either text message, whatspps or other forms of social media to the network control centre, which will then broadcast the information using various channels to a network of volunteers who would volunteer to help in locating the rustled cattle. Since the information is geo-referenced, volunteers will have instantaneous idea of where the rustling had taken place and with a geo-mapped of the routes will know the likely routes that the rustles will take in the neighborhood. The system is also going to work with shared codes for people do not know how to write to send in reports using codes and symbols.

The second session was a hands-on training on use of Whataspp for reporting cattle rustling. This was facilitated by CITAD’s Peace Programme Officer, Malam Abdulganiyyu Rufa’i who started his presentation by providing a list of handsets that could download the apps and install, and thereafter assisted some of the participations to install the application on their handsets. Having done that, he introduced them to Moftal Fulbe, a Fulbe socio-cultural WhatsApp group which was earlier created by the coalition of Fulbe groups during the Zamfara workshop on cattle rustling. The participants’ phone numbers were added to the group as its new members.

It was followed by a session on the use of ordinary phones for reporting.  For the non –literate Fulanis, illustrative codes were developed and agreed to be used in reporting and tracking incidences of cattle rustling.

Finally, an interactive session was held. In it, the myriads of cattle rustling in Bauchi state and other related issues were discussed. Some of the participants shared their experiences on cattle rustling in their communities. Suggestions by the participants on how Cattle Rustling phenomenon can be tackled include:

1. Fulbe organizations to pay advocacy visits to government and other stakeholders to complain the depth of their plights
2. More Civil Society Organizations to join in the fight against cattle rustling in the northern region
3. Fulbe organizations to create communication strategies among them
4. Participants to share the knowledge acquired during the workshop to sensitize their members

Introduction

Cattle rustling refers to the mass stealing of grazing cattle. It is a situation in which farmers lost cattle to cattle thieves while grazing. Traditionally, cattle rustling have been driven by the criminal intent to expropriate cow for meat or for sale. Pertinently, it must have served as a means of primitive accumulation of cow-herd in the contexts of subsistence and commercial pastoralism. Over the years, cattle rustling have evolved into a pattern of organized crime with immense criminal sophistication and efficiency. Hence, contemporary cattle rustlers operate with modern weaponry and their operations are marked by trans-locational and trans-national syndication. Some of the consequences of cattle rustling include:

• Frequent ethno/religious conflicts with loss of lives
• Increasing spade of violence in the country
• Loss of GDP by affected states
• High social costs to both individuals and the nation

Over the years, cattle rustling in northern Nigeria has become a great issue that is threatening the cattle rearing culture and business associated with it. It has manifested in various scales and dimensions across the regions impending in various strategies and aftermaths.

The Workshop

Considering the aforementioned, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) as part of its peace building effort decided to organize a series of one day workshop on using social media to track cattle rustling. The first of the series held on 11th of June 2015 for Fulbe organizations, field cattle rearers, Hardos (Fulani leaders), community leaders etc at Fulbe Hotel, Gusau, Zamfara State. It was attended by representatives from fifteen (15) organizations, including other influential personalities in Zamfara attended the workshop. Some of the organizations were:

1. Miyetti-Allah organization, Zamfara state chapter
2. Fulbe Development Association
3. Fulbe Nane Haame
4. Farmers/Fulani Reconciliation Organization
5. Dan Sadau Youth Organization
6. Voluntary Aid Initiative
7. Ministry of Commerce
8. Save the Society
9. N.U.R.T.W. Zamfara state
10. Save Mothers and Children Initiative
11. Fulani group
12. Initiative for Muslim Women of Nigeria
13. Fulani Initiative for Protection of Environment and Less privilege

The objectives of the workshop were:

1. To sensitize participants to the use of social media in reporting and tracking cattle rustling
2. To initiate a network of  volunteers for tracking and rescuing rustled cattle
3. To brief the participants on the Cattle Rustling Information System (CaTRIS) that CITAD is developing to document, track and help to rescue cattle from rustlers.

The workshop started with a background presentation on Using Social Media to Fight Cattle Rustling was taken by CITAD’s Media Officer Malam Sufyan Lawal Kabo. In it, the phenomenon of cattle rustling was presented alongside the Cattle Rustling Information System (CaTRIS). The CaTRI which involve geo-mapping of cattle tracks and grazing reserves on the Ushashidi platform will allow victims to send in information using either text message, whatspps or other forms of social media to the network control centre, which will then broadcast the information using various channels to a network of volunteers who would volunteer to help in locating the rustled cattle. Since the information is geo-referenced, volunteers will have instantaneous idea of where the rustling had taken place and with a geo-mapped of the routes will know the likely routes that the rustles will take in the neighborhood. The system is also going to work with shared codes for people do not know how to write to send in reports using codes and symbols.

The objectives of CaTRIS are:

• To provide rearers with training on use ICTs to send or receive alerts on rustling attempts
• To provide cattle rearers with reporting mechanism should their cattle be taken
• Provide an alert system to provide information to volunteers who will help in tracking stolen cattle
• To document cases of cattle rustling so that we can have a robust database for advocacy purposes
• Provide rearers with the training on use of modern tools that will help in tracking stolen cattle etc.

Following the background presentation, the participants broke into small groups and brainstormed on how the issue of cattle rustling could be addressed. The groups later make presentation of their deliberation as follows:

On the side of government:

1. Government should engage Fulani community leaders in designing frameworks for tackling the menace of cattle rustling
2. Government should provide good education and other necessities for the Fulani communities
3. Government to increase budgetary allocation for the development of grazing reserves
4. Government to address the grievance of cattle rustlers
5. Government to provide effective security measures in all rearing communities and nomadic routes
6. Government should intervene in all rusting cases hanging in courts, police stations and with other security agencies to ensure that justice is done

On the side of CSOs and CBOs

1. CSOs to mobilize the Fulani to form self-help organizations and interactive forums that will comprise their fellow rearers and leaders in assisting each other especially on security issues
2. Conduct advocacy visits to the government agencies and other stakeholders for the implementation of policies and measures that will solve cattle rustling
3. CSOs to volunteer in sensitizing the Fulani on using modern communication technologies in reporting and tracking of stolen cattle
4. To collaborate with Fulani traditional rulers, community leaders, youth and women leaders in order to achieve desired objectives

The third item was a hands-on training on use of Whataspp for reporting cattle rustling. This was facilitated by CITAD’s Peace Clubs Officer; Malam Kamilu Isa. He started by first providing a list of lit handset that could download the apps and install, thereafter he assisted some of the participations to install the application in their handset. He then took them through setting up their personal accounts and them making post. A demonstration group, Muftal Fulbe was set up which was then used for the training to illustrate various ways in which the headers could share information as well as report cattle rustling.

The final session was on next steps which was to identify what other follow up activities should follow. It was agreed that there should be advocacy to key stakeholders and sensitization activities among herders. It was also agreed that participants will share the knowledge with others. CITAD will on its own after doing the first round of consultation call review meeting to update the participants on its findings and the state of the CaTRIS.