By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Despite years of insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, the Potiskum livestock market in Yobe State continues to thrive, attracting traders from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Widely regarded as one of the largest cattle markets in sub-Saharan Africa, the market accommodates more than 3,000 animals on every market day.
A visit showed a bustling trade hub where livestock dealers from Chad, Niger, Benin and Cameroon buy and sell cattle, goats and sheep.
Traders said Potiskum has grown in importance as insecurity weakened other livestock markets in the region.
A Kano-based cattle dealer, Alhaji Abdulsalam Suleh Waya, said he had traded at the market weekly for more than 20 years.
“The unique nature of this market attracts us because of the variety of cattle breeds available here,” he said.
He explained that many traders abandoned markets such as Benishek due to insecurity and shifted operations to Potiskum.
Another trader, Salihu Ibrahim Bello, said business remained active despite security challenges across northern Nigeria.
“Trucks transport livestock from this market to Kano, Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abuja and other cities weekly,” he said.
According to him, cattle prices have risen sharply, with cows now selling for between N1 million and N2 million.
Livestock seller Abdulkadir Abubakar said the market has created jobs for youths in transportation, animal care, meat processing and veterinary services.
Cattle buyer Malam Adamu Wammi said more than 100 trailers move livestock weekly from Potiskum to southern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
He added that taxes paid by buyers and sellers generate millions of naira in revenue for the government.
Potiskum market suffered a deadly Boko Haram attack in 2012 that killed more than 200 people, but it has since recovered.
The Sarkin Tike of Potiskum Emirate, Alhaji Ummaru Maidelta, said peace and stability had restored confidence among traders and customers.
“We experienced a tragic attack, but today the market is more active than ever,” he said.
