By Alusine Sesay
Over the past eight months, more than 100 cattle have been killed and stolen from a single herder in Makari Chiefdom, Bombali District.
M.S. Jalloh, a distressed herder, revealed to Premier News that they lose two to three cattle every week to thieves in the community. If this trend continues, they fear being left without any livestock.
Jalloh highlighted the brutal methods used by locals to kill their cattle, including firearms, poisoning of the water source, aggressive local traps, and machetes. He expressed frustration that when perpetrators are arrested and taken to the police station, the paramount chief of Makari Chiefdom facilitated their release without any consequences.
“This state of affairs has rendered the community unsafe to rear cattle as we are recording losses daily. It is very frustrating that we could not get justice. We continue to suffer in silence, and we are losing our businesses. Protecting us is about protecting local businesses,” Jalloh stated.
Premier News has learned that authorities, including the police and the paramount chief, are not doing enough to protect cattle herders from losing their herds. This lack of protection has forced some herders out of business due to the high cost of raising cattle, according to another herder, Alpha Bah. He pointed out that this situation has contributed to the high cost of meat in the market.
The herders are calling on the government of President Julius Maada Bio, who has committed to promoting agriculture, to protect them against thieves and ensure they have access to justice. They emphasize that they are farmers who deserve government protection.
This appeal highlights the urgent need for government intervention to safeguard the livelihoods of cattle herders in Makari Chiefdom and ensure their safety and business continuity.