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The Dahalo of Madagascar and Cattle Rustlers in the Lake Chad Basin, a Shared Threat Beyond Borders

The Dahalo of Madagascar and Cattle Rustlers in the Lake Chad Basin, a Shared Threat Beyond Borders
By: Zagazola Makama
In the heart of Africa and the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, two seemingly distant threats share a dangerous commonality: the Dahalo and cattle rustlers. Though they exist in different geographical, cultural, and political contexts, both groups have metamorphosed from traditional raiders into well-armed, highly networked criminal enterprises with disturbing implications for regional security, economic stability, and global illicit trade.
Traditionally, the Dahalo of Madagascar were young men proving their bravery through cattle theft and culturally accepted rite of passage. But over the years, this practice evolved into a violent criminal operation, particularly in Madagascar’s southern “red zones.” Today, Dahalo fighters move in formations reminiscent of guerrilla units, carrying Kalashnikovs and MAS-36 rifles, burning villages, and executing raids with deadly precision.
A similar transformation has occurred across the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) and the broader Sahel. What was once a pastoralist ritual for dowry or status has devolved into rampant cattle rustling, marked by commercial motivations and military-grade violence. Armed groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have co-opted cattle theft as a tool of economic warfare and insurgency financing, altering the dynamics of regional insecurity.
In both regions, the actors are heavily armed and exploit ungoverned spaces for strategic advantage. Madagascar’s Dahalo exploit remote territories with minimal government presence, particularly in the Great South, operating freely in zones that mirror guerrilla warfare conditions.
In the Sahel and Lake Chad region, cattle rustlers and terror groups capitalize on Nigeria’s marshlands of Lake Chad, and the mountainous border regions of Niger and Mali. Here, they evade security forces, engage in cross-border raids, and impose illegal taxes on livestock traders and herders.
A critical yet underreported dimension is the emergence of transnational livestock trafficking networks, often referred to as the “meat mafia.” In both Madagascar and West Africa, stolen cattle are laundered through intermediaries – including corrupt officials, market traders, transporters, and butchers blending seamlessly with legally acquired livestock in regional markets.
In Nigeria, Africa’s largest cattle market, rustled herds are sold openly. Sophisticated tactics like “cattle round-tripping” moving animals across porous borders to obscure their origins have are now common. In Burkina Faso, jihadist groups such as JNIM and Ansarul Islam have even developed “commercial partnerships” with these networks, earning millions in monthly revenues to sustain their insurgencies.
Madagascar mirrors this structure. Government reports have exposed collusion between national leaders, police officers, and judges in facilitating Dahalo operations. Special advisers have described entire “cattle mafias” laundering thousands of heads of zebu (a prized local breed), with links to export markets in China and Arab states.
Another chilling layer to this network is the leather trade. While concrete evidence linking fashion brands to leather sourced from stolen livestock remains elusive, the risk is real. In Nigeria alone, animal skin exports generate more than $800 million annually. With no comprehensive system to trace the origin of hides, it’s highly plausible that stolen cattle contribute to global leather supply chains.
The fashion industry, known for its opaque supply networks, often sources leather through tanneries in high-risk regions. This opens a channel for conflict leather to flow unnoticed into international markets. Inaction or failure to investigate supply origins could render global brands complicit – knowingly or not – in fueling banditry and terror finance.
The terror-crime nexus in the LCB and Sahel is undeniable. Groups like Boko Haram use cattle rustling not just to fund operations but to dominate rural economies. They impose taxes on herders, abduct livestock owners for ransom, and terrorize communities into submission. These tactics serve both economic and psychological warfare, entrenching their control and weakening state legitimacy.
While the Dahalo are less ideologically motivated, their methods mimic insurgent governance: hostage-taking, village destruction, and an ability to operate with impunity. Madagascar’s internal security challenges mirror the complexity of northern Nigeria and the tri-border Sahel.
What Next? Toward a Multisectoral Response
The threat posed by these groups transcends cattle rustling. It reflects broader failures in governance, law enforcement, and border security. Left unchecked, they undermine fragile economies, deepen food insecurity, and blur the lines between criminal enterprise and armed conflict.
Addressing this challenge demands a multisectoral strategy: Strengthen border surveillance and regional intelligence-sharing.Regulate and digitize livestock movement through traceable means (e.g., tagging, blockchain). Crack down on collusion within security forces and public institutions.
Enforce due diligence in the leather and meat industries to prevent laundering of stolen goods.
Provide pastoral communities with economic alternatives and local protection mechanisms.
Conclusion
From the red plains of Madagascar to the dry frontiers of the Sahel, a dark economy thrives on the backs of stolen cattle. Whether driven by profit, ritual, or insurgency, the actors involved share more than just tactics. they exploit the same gaps in governance, the same desperation of vulnerable communities, and the same blind spots in international oversight.
The world may view cattle rustling as a relic of the past, but in reality, it is a sophisticated and deadly enterprise one that demands urgent attention from African states, global industry, and international partners alike.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region
The Dahalo of Madagascar and Cattle Rustlers in the Lake Chad Basin, a Shared Threat Beyond Borders
News
Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno

Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Recent reports claiming that former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), narrowly escaped death in an alleged Boko Haram ambush in Borno State are categorically false and misleading.
Zagazola Makama can confirm that there was never any attack on the retired general, contrary to statements made by Senator Ali Ndume and recklessly amplified by several media outlets without a shred of verification.
What actually happened was a coordinated three-pronged attack by ISWAP terrorists on military facilities in Buratai town, Biu Local Government Area, on Friday. The assault targeted the Battalion Headquarters, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Command Secondary School – not Lt.-Gen. Buratai or any convoy associated with him.
Let us be clear:
Lt.-Gen. Buratai was nowhere near the ambush, and at no point was his life in danger. This is not a matter of semantics, it’s a matter of truth versus dangerous misinformation.
Zagazola Makama, has previously reported how the ground troops, with critical support from Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano jets, repelled the attackers decisively.
During the encounter, two ISWAP gun trucks were destroyed, while a third was recovered during follow-up operations. Several terrorists were killed, including over 20 in airstrikes during their retreat through Mangari.
So how did this snowball into a national headline falsely claiming a “near-death” experience for the former army chief?
Because some politicians spoke irresponsibly, and certain media platforms ran with the story without basic verification, an unforgivable dereliction of journalistic duty, especially in a region as sensitive as the North East.
The media owes the public and the Armed Forces of Nigeria the duty of responsible reporting, not alarmist fiction wrapped in sensational headlines. The security situation in Buratai is under control, and troops continue to dominate the area to prevent any further attacks.
Let this stand as a final and factual rebuttal:
There was NO attack on Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai. Period. Stop twisting the truth for cheap headlines.
Fact Check: No attack on former COAS Buratai – what really happened in Buratai, Borno
News
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad

Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
By: Zagazola Makama
As part of ongoing efforts to sustain pressure on terrorist elements and deny them freedom of action, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has conducted another successful air interdiction mission at a terrorist enclave in Bukar Meram, located in the southern axis of the Lake Chad region.
Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the mission, which was executed in the early hourz of Monday, June 9, at about 0545 hours, was carried out under the auspices of Operation KALACHEN WUTA II.
The sources said that the operation formed part of a broader strategy aimed at disrupting terrorist activities before, during, and after the Eid-el-Kabir Sallah period.
He said that intelligence-led surveillance revealed that the terrorists were regrouping at the Bukar Meram location with intent to launch coordinated attacks on Marte and Monguno general areas.
Prompted by this credible intelligence, the Air Component swiftly mobilised to engage the enclave. Airstrikes were conducted with precision, leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists.
The strikes also resulted in the destruction of critical terrorist logistics, including supply vehicles, makeshift shelters, and weapons storage points.
The decimation of the enclave not only inflicted significant losses on the terrorists but also disrupted their operational planning and movement.
The sources added that Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted after the mission confirmed that the planned attacks on Marte and Monguno were effectively thwarted.
Further intelligence gathering is ongoing to assess enemy reactions and possible movement patterns following the successful interdiction. Ground troops have also been placed on heightened alert to exploit the gains of the airstrike and maintain pressure on fleeing remnants.
Again, NAF Jets Decimate Terrorist Enclave in Bukar Meram in Lake Chad
News
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel

French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
By: Zagazola Makama
A 67-year-old French national, Mr. Pietier Gilles, has been found dead at a hotel in Gboko town in Benue state.
Zagazola Makama report that the deceased, believed to be a French tourist, was found dead on Saturday at Hotel Jovina, Gbokon, where he had lodged on June 6.
According to a police sources, on Sunday, the hotel manager, Mr. Emmanuel Terhide Laha, reported the incident to the “A” Division Police Station at about 5:45 p.m. on June 8.
Laha informed the police that the tourist fell ill on June 7 but declined to be taken to a hospital. Concerned about his deteriorating condition, the hotel management brought in a medical practitioner to examine him. He was, however, discovered to have died.
“On receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer led a patrol team to the hotel where photographs of the scene were taken. The body was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gboko for preservation and autopsy,” the police said.
Gilles reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Niger Republic on May 19, 2025, traveling on a sports bicycle as part of what is believed to be a long-distance tour.
Police sources said investigation will be conducted, and all relevant diplomatic channels are being engaged to handle the situation appropriately.
French tourist found dead in Gboko hotel
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