The Cross River State Government has revoked the livestock movement permit previously issued to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). The decision was formally announced on November 23, 2025, through an official circular issued by the Commissioner for Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries Development, Hon. Emmanuel Anom.
Ejes Gist News gathered that the revocation marks a major change in the state’s approach to livestock mobility, following weeks of rising public alarm over insecurity linked to cattle transit across rural communities. The decision signals the government’s intention to adopt stricter administrative measures to protect residents across border areas and prevent further escalation of security risks.
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The circular was distributed to security agencies, traditional institutions and local government authorities, underscoring the seriousness with which the state intends to enforce the directive. The previous permit had allowed the movement of cattle from Ebonyi State, through Cross River, and onward to Cameroon, a route historically used by pastoralists for cross-border trade.
Why the Permit Was Revoked
According to the official release, state authorities reviewed existing security developments and concluded that the permit was no longer compatible with current realities. The memo instructed all law enforcement agencies to immediately halt cattle movements along approved pathways and ensure that the cancellation is fully implemented.
The commissioner stated that the revocation “supersedes the previously issued permit” and directed security operatives to remain vigilant at border entry points, internal roads and rural transit paths. The state government’s position reflects rising concerns over reported incidents linked to cattle movements, particularly in forested communities where monitoring has become difficult.
Although the statement did not reference specific attacks or arrests, multiple farming communities across central and northern Cross River have raised complaints in recent months about suspicious transit activities. Some communities reported that criminal elements could be exploiting open cattle routes as cover to move weapons, stolen property or fugitives without detection.
Security Environment in Cross River
Cross River shares several land border entry points with Cameroon. The terrain includes forests, river crossings and remote villages where law enforcement coverage is limited. These conditions have historically made the region vulnerable to:
- Kidnapping
- Unauthorized migration
- Smuggling of goods and livestock
- Cross-border banditry
- Community clashes between farmers and herders
Over the past few years, security analysts have noted that large-scale livestock movement along unmonitored routes increases operational risks for security agencies. Livestock convoys often travel through rural areas where communication infrastructure is weak and access is limited, reducing the state’s capacity to track movement and enforce checks.
The revocation of the permit is expected to allow authorities to reassess the security landscape and improve system-level oversight of rural transportation.
Community Pressure and Local Demands
Before the cancellation, local leaders in Obubra, Ikom, Ogoja, Boki and other impacted regions had appealed to the state government to suspend the permit. Their concerns were based on several observations:
- Reports of farmland destruction caused by roaming animals
- Increased risk of confrontations between farmers and herders
- Fear of infiltration by criminal groups
- Dependence on traditional security networks unable to cope with complex threats
Agricultural communities expressed concerns that during cross-border cattle movement, criminals could hide within herding groups to avoid security checkpoints. The cancellation appears to be a direct response to these warnings and reflects increasing reliance on preventive strategies rather than post-incident reaction.
Why the Original Permit Was Controversial
The permit, reportedly issued earlier in the year, came at a time when several Nigerian states were restricting or regulating herder movement due to national concerns over rural attacks, communal clashes and associated crimes. Advocacy groups questioned the timing of the decision, arguing that it could expose the state to heightened security vulnerabilities.
Issues raised by civil society actors included:
- The unstable security situation in neighboring regions
- The potential for large-scale movement of cattle to strain peace in rural communities
- Limited law enforcement personnel along border corridors
- The risk of uncontrolled, undocumented movement across state lines
Although Miyetti Allah has consistently defended the rights of livestock traders to carry out lawful business activities, public debate around the organization’s involvement in national discussions on rural security made the permit politically sensitive.
State Shift Towards Preventive Security
By revoking the permit, the administration of Governor Bassey Otu has shifted toward a more preventive approach in rural security policy. This shift includes the expectation that police units, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel and joint taskforce operatives increase checkpoints, vehicle screening and surveillance along routes leading into Cameroon.
Security units are also expected to:
- Identify high-risk movement corridors
- Conduct random inspections
- Document livestock transit patterns
- Prevent unauthorized convoys from entering or leaving the state
If effectively implemented, the directive may address operational challenges that previously allowed cattle convoys to move without sufficient monitoring.
Implications for Livestock Commerce and Local Market Chains
The suspension of the permit is likely to affect livestock merchants and market operators who depend on established cattle routes for economic activity. While Cross River is not a major cattle-producing state, its location makes it a transit corridor feeding trade networks connected to Central Africa.
Some livestock traders may now:
- Seek alternative routes through Ebonyi, Benue or Taraba
- Experience longer travel times
- Face increased transportation costs
- Adjust pricing strategies to reflect higher risk and regulatory checks
On the other hand, crop farmers in agricultural belts may experience reduced farmland damage and fewer disputes over boundary violations in the short term.
Border Dynamics and Regional Security Pressures
Cross River’s frontier with Cameroon includes areas that are difficult to patrol continuously due to terrain and limited infrastructure. Reports from rural communities have shown that forested routes can facilitate unauthorized cross-border activities without consistent detection.
Security commentators note key risk factors:
- Movement of livestock can coincide with movement of other goods
- Criminal organizations may blend into cattle convoys
- Rural terrain favors evasion of formal checkpoints
- Local vigilante and community security networks may lack equipment and intelligence resources
These challenges have strengthened the argument for regulatory measures to limit unsupervised livestock movement.
Public Reaction After the Revocation
Early reactions following the announcement showed strong backing for the government’s decision across social media and local communication platforms. Many residents welcomed the halt, viewing it as a step toward reducing rural insecurity. Others urged authorities to implement complementary measures to sustain long-term stability.
Recommendations from community leaders and analysts include:
- Deployment of rural patrol teams
- Modern surveillance tools for border monitoring
- Strengthening of farmer–herder dispute resolution frameworks
- Closer inter-state and inter-agency security coordination
- Clear documentation of livestock traders entering the state
The state government has not yet disclosed whether the ban is temporary, conditional or permanent. Miyetti Allah had also not issued an official response at the time of publication.
National Context and Policy Trends
Several states across Nigeria have been reassessing policies governing livestock mobility due to long-standing farmer–herder conflicts and national insecurity challenges. State bans or restrictions generally aim to:
- Prevent clashes in high-risk zones
- Limit cross-border infiltration
- Strengthen law enforcement oversight
- Reduce accidental destruction of crops and villages
- Manage migration of herder groups in line with security conditions
Recent developments indicate a broader national shift toward policy frameworks that elevate preventive strategies over post-incident interventions. The Cross River decision fits within this wider trend of recalibrating rural security management tools.
Operational Measures Expected to Follow
With the revocation in effect, state agencies are expected to:
- Conduct regular highway patrols
- Track livestock transport using documentation
- Monitor identified transit nodes
- Collaborate with border enforcement units
- Apply sanctions where operators violate the ban
Local government authorities are also expected to participate by:
- Providing intelligence updates
- Supporting rural oversight teams
- Coordinating with community security actors
Effective implementation will depend on manpower availability, surveillance resources, communication infrastructure and real-time information sharing between government units.
What the Decision Means for Cross River
The suspension of the livestock movement permit represents one of the most decisive administrative actions of the current administration regarding rural security. Whether it significantly improves safety along border communities will depend on enforcement, trade response and the actions of neighboring states.
At minimum, the directive demonstrates that the government intends to prioritize the protection of rural populations by limiting logistics conditions that could introduce security vulnerabilities.
