A rural farming community in Nigeria’s Kebbi State has called on Governor Nasir Idris to intervene in a bitter dispute over what they describe as the forced takeover of ancestral farmlands by an individual allegedly linked to the governor’s family. Over 180 farmers in Gulumbe village, located in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, claim their livelihoods are under threat after heavy machinery began demolishing crops without warning, escalating tensions in the agrarian region.
Abubakar Tafidan-Gulumbe, a spokesperson for the villagers, told journalists on Tuesday that a man identified as Mustapha Sani-Zauro initiated the land clearance earlier this month, bypassing local leaders. “These farms have sustained our families for generations,” he said, noting that crops including millet, groundnuts, and maize—valued at over ₦30 million (approximately $36,000 USD)—were destroyed during the rainy season planting period. “He arrived unannounced, claiming authority from the governor’s family. We find this impossible to believe.”
While condemning the alleged encroachment, the community cautiously defended Governor Idris’s reputation. Tafidan-Gulumbe stressed that the governor, widely regarded as a figure of “integrity and piety,” had historically acquired land through lawful purchases, including a plot he himself sold to Idris years prior. “We refuse to accept that he or his family would sanction such actions,” he asserted. The remarks appear calculated to balance criticism of the incident with deference to local leadership, underscoring the villagers’ reliance on state intervention.
The dispute highlights both the economic fragility of rural communities dependent on seasonal farming and simmering tensions over land rights in Nigeria’s northwest. With food insecurity already a pressing concern, the loss of crops threatens to deepen hardship in Gulumbe, where agriculture forms the backbone of survival. Community leaders estimate the financial toll could exceed initial projections if replanting is delayed.
To address the crisis, residents say they are pursuing multiple avenues for redress. Legal teams plan to file petitions with security agencies, while traditional leaders intend to escalate the matter to the Kebbi Emirate Council, a key regional authority. Tafidan-Gulumbe emphasized that these steps aim to prevent unilateral retaliation by frustrated farmers or youths, though he acknowledged rising anxieties. Local political representatives, including a ward councilor and state assembly member, have reportedly been notified.
As of Wednesday, the Kebbi State government had not issued any public statement regarding the allegations. The silence leaves unanswered questions about potential governmental oversight of land disputes and the broader implications for rural governance. For now, Gulumbe’s residents remain in limbo, their appeal for justice hinging on a response from authorities they still hope will uphold their rights.
