Despite the call by the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, for Nigerians to engage in farming and invest hugely in agriculture to curtail mass importation and increase food security in the country,
Thousands of farmers in Kano State may lose an opportunity to continue their long-term heritage due to the seizure of their farmland in some parts of the state.
Daily Episode learned that thousands of farmland were seized by the authorities of some local governments in collaboration with the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority in the Madobi and Gezawa local government areas of Kano State.
Kano-based lawyer and rights activist, Bar Abba Hikima, engaged the authorities with a lawsuit in defense of the farmers over the seizure of farmland belonging to over five hundred people in the Madobi local government area.
However, a high court sitting in Kano has ruled to restrain the Madobi local government from its decision to take over the farmlands belonging to the farmers.
Majority of the farmers are from low-income communities and villages in the Madobi local government area, with significant numbers from the village of Kafin Agur.
Both the Madobi Local Government Council chairman and the district heads did not return or reply to text messages from Daily Episode.
The lands were already excavated before the ruling, which may have cost the farmers a huge loss considering the approaching rainy season for their farming activities.
Although the court had ruled in their favor while adjourning the case filed by Barrister Abba Hikima to April 19, 2020.
The Cry of Gezewa Local Government
Kano state authorities seized no fewer than forty thousand pieces of farmland belonging to the Juya community in the Gezawa local government area of Kano state.
The villagers protested the government’s decision to forcefully take their farmland while granting an interview to Mujalar Matashiya.
However, people from the Juya community, who depend on farming as their livelihood, cry about the unexpected scenario while pleading with the government to reverse its decision to take their farmland.
Recall that the country is facing challenges from insecurity and rising inflation that are causing many to live in extreme poverty amidst hardship.
