Insecurity: We Recovered Over 500,000 Hectares of Farmland From Bandits — Kaduna Govt

The Kaduna State Government has said it has recovered more than 500,000 hectares of farmland previously controlled or rendered inaccessible by bandits.

The state government said the achievement followed sustained security operations aimed at restoring normalcy to communities affected by insecurity and enabling displaced farmers to return to their fields.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed the development while highlighting the state’s efforts to improve security and revive agricultural activities.

According to the government, large areas of farmland had become inaccessible to farmers as a result of attacks, kidnappings and other criminal activities, particularly in communities affected by banditry.

Aruwan said security agencies had intensified operations in affected areas, allowing communities to gradually regain access to their farms.

He explained that restoring access to agricultural land was important not only for the safety of residents but also for food production and the state’s wider economic recovery.

The government said the recovery of the farmlands had encouraged farmers to return to cultivation and contributed to renewed economic activity in affected communities.

It added that the security efforts were being supported by cooperation between security agencies, local authorities and residents, particularly through the sharing of information on suspicious activities.

The state government maintained that improved security remained essential to its agricultural development plans because farmers could not produce effectively when they feared attacks while working on their farms.

It said the administration would continue to support security agencies in their operations and strengthen measures aimed at protecting rural communities.

The government also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security authorities to help prevent attacks and identify criminal elements operating in vulnerable areas.

The recovery of the farmland is expected to support increased agricultural production as more farmers return to their fields, particularly ahead of the next farming cycles.

Kaduna has been among the states affected by banditry and other forms of insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, with rural communities and farming activities particularly affected.

The state government said the restoration of access to farmland demonstrated the importance of sustained security operations in protecting livelihoods and strengthening food security.

It reaffirmed its commitment to working with security agencies and communities to ensure that recovered areas remain safe and accessible to farmers.