The Zamfara State Government has suspended eleven cattle markets in the state until further notice.
Munnir Haidara, the State Commissioner of Information, made the announcement to journalists in Gusau on Thursday.
According to security sources, robbers were exploiting the markets to sell their rustled calves.
According to the commissioner, the impacted markets are Tsafe and Bilbis markets in Tsafe Local Government region, Jangebe market in Talata-Mafara LGA, and Wuya market in Anka region.
Magazine Diddi market in Maradun LGA, Galadi market in Shinkafi LGA, Mada market in Gusau LGA, and Sabon Birnin Danali market in Birnin Magaji LGA were the other markets.
The other markets in Birnin Magaji LGA are Kokiya, Chigama, and Nasarawar Godel.
According to Haidara, the state government decided to close the markets due to security concerns that the bandits were conspiring with some unscrupulous individuals to sell their rustled cows in those marketplaces.
He stated that the state administration had directed security personnel to enforce the order and arrest anyone who disobeyed it.
“The security personnel have since been directed to arrest any person found in these affected markets,” he added.
He called on the people of the state to abide by the order and cooperate with the state government in its efforts to rid the state of banditry.