Kaduna govt recovers 500,000 hectares of farmland from bandits – Commissioner claims

About 500,000 hectares of farmland previously controlled by bandits in Kaduna State have been reclaimed, according to Ahmed Maiyaki, the state Commissioner for Information and Culture. The recovery was made possible through improved security measures implemented by the state government. Maiyaki made this claim during a gala night organized by the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel as part of its annual retreat in Kaduna.

He explained that bandits had previously imposed taxes, dictated farming activities, and even collected dowries from residents, rendering many farmers unable to access their lands. To combat the situation, the government employed a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures, empowering traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth groups to actively participate in the fight against insecurity.

Between 2023 and early 2026, 75 potential security threats were detected, with 70 successfully addressed, preventing potential communal or religious clashes. The improved security situation has enabled the government to allocate more budget to agriculture, increasing it from ₦1.4 billion in 2023 to over ₦100 billion in 2026. This investment has facilitated the free distribution of fertilizers to farmers, boosting maize yields from three bags per hectare to up to 22 bags.

The government's focus on tangible outcomes has helped reduce food insecurity and restore dignity to rural communities.