Causes of cattle theft in the North West Region of Cameroon (original) (raw)

Pastoralists have developed over the years coping strategies with the support of various technical services, but a new system of predatory exploitation of socio-economic resources in the form of cattle theft has emerged. This study was conducted to elucidate the causes of cattle theft in the North West Region of Cameroon. A sample of 297 pastoralists proportionately distributed based on the number of pastoralists in each Division (147 Fulani, 147 Non Fulani and 06 others) were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analysed using SPSS software. Descriptive as well as inferential statistical methods were used to sort and analyse the data. An increase in the number of herd-less Fulani pastoralists was identified as the main cause of cattle theft while the principal actors of cattle theft was a mixture of both the Fulani and Non Fulani. Government should train and employ herdless Fulanis to reduce cattle theft.