Bafarawa: How bandits forced me off 10,000 hectares of land

Former Governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, on Monday spoke on how bandits made him abandon his 10,000 hectares of land in Kaduna State.

Speaking to newsmen on the high cost of foodstuff in the country, he said the people of Bafarawa usually seek permission from bandits before going to farm.

Bafarawa is a district under Isa local government area in the eastern part of Sokoto state.

The politician told journalists that bandits were the ones who decide which farm to be cultivated or not in his community.

“I used to have a farmland which is over 10,000 hectares in Birni Gwari of Kaduna State. I have been cultivating that land since 1979 but I cannot reach there now because of the bandits.”

“The maize I produced that time is in commercial quantity that, I used part of it for my flour mill which is also out of production. The issue of insecurity is behind the high cost of food items because many farmers have been displaced.

“There was a time I warned the federal government about the impending food insecurity in the country but my advice was ignored,” he said

He called for a genuine collaborative efforts between the federal government, state and the local government to tackle insecurity, particularly in the north.

“The state governments cannot do it alone without the support of the federal government,” he said

On the general situation in the country, Bafarawa cautioned leaders on the need to wake up before it is too late to save the situation.

On whether he has quit active politics, he said he would remain in politics but would not hold any political appointment.