Kebbi: Over N30m crops destroyed in alleged land grab by gov’s ally

Residents of Gulumbe village in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State have raised alarm over the alleged seizure of their farmlands by a man said to be acting on behalf of the governor’s family.

A community leader, Abubakar Tafidan-Gulumbe, who addressed journalists on Tuesday, alleged that one Mustapha Sani-Zauro arrived in the area with heavy machinery and began clearing farmlands without any prior notice or approval.

“For generations, we have farmed these lands. Suddenly, this man began clearing our farmland without consulting our traditional rulers,” Tafidan-Gulumbe said.

He claimed that when Sani-Zauro was confronted, he alleged he was working on behalf of members of Governor Nasir Idris’s family, a claim the community has rejected.

“We believe the Governor would not support such illegal acts or allow his family to be involved in this,” he said.

The community leader said the land clearing had affected over 180 farmers, with estimated crop losses exceeding N30 million. He listed the destroyed crops to include millet, groundnuts, maize, and guinea corn.

“This rainy season, we had already planted crops worth more than N30 million. Now everything is threatened,” Tafidan-Gulumbe lamented.

The community is now calling on Governor Idris to intervene and halt the alleged encroachment.

He added that formal complaints would be submitted through legal and traditional channels, including petitions to security agencies and a report to the Emirate Council.

“We want to avoid a situation where frustrated youths take the law into their own hands,” he warned.

Kebbi: Over N30m crops destroyed in alleged land grab by gov’s ally