“I Cannot Reach My 10,000-Hectare Farm Because of Bandits” – Ex-Gov Bafarawa

In a recent interview, former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, lamented the impact of banditry in the northern regions of Nigeria, highlighting how it has forced him to abandon his 10,000-hectare farmland in Kaduna State.

Bafarawa disclosed that he has been cultivating this land in Birni Gwari, Kaduna, since 1979, but has been unable to continue due to the increasing threat of bandits. The former governor explained that bandits now dictate which farms can be cultivated in the area, creating a climate of fear and insecurity for farmers.

“I used to have farmland, which is over 10,000 hectares in Birni Gwari of Kaduna State. I have been cultivating that land since 1979, but I cannot reach there now because of the bandits,” he told reporters.

Bafarawa noted that his flour mill, which used the maize grown on his farmland, has also been shut down due to the same security concerns. He attributed the high cost of food items to the widespread displacement of farmers caused by banditry.

Experts suggest that the ongoing activities of bandits in the Northeast and Northwest regions are contributing to Nigeria’s food crisis. According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, food inflation reached 31.70% in March, sparking warnings of a national food emergency.

Bafarawa mentioned that he had previously warned the Federal Government about the risk of food insecurity, but his advice was not taken seriously. He called for a collaborative effort among federal, state, and local governments to address the growing insecurity.

“The state governments cannot do it alone without the support of the Federal Government,” Bafarawa emphasized.