Gulumbe Residents Cry Out to Gov. Idris for Intervention Over Alleged Forceful Seizure of Farmlands

Residents of Gulumbe village in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State have raised an urgent alarm over the alleged forceful takeover of their ancestral farmlands, appealing to Governor Nasir Idris to intervene and halt the encroachment.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, a community leader, Abubakar Tafidan-Gulumbe, accused a man identified as Mustapha Sani-Zauro of deploying heavy machinery to clear large swaths of farmland without any prior consultation with the local farmers or traditional authorities.

“For generations, we have farmed these lands, some inherited from our forefathers,” Tafidan-Gulumbe said. “Suddenly, a man named Mustapha Sani-Zauro appeared with bulldozers and began clearing our farmland without notice or approval from our community heads.”

He alleged that Sani-Zauro claimed to be acting on behalf of members of Governor Idris’ family, a claim the community strongly rejected.

“We reject this claim outright,” Tafidan-Gulumbe said. “We are confident that Governor Idris, a man known for his integrity, would never authorize such an illegal act or allow his name to be misused in this way.”

Describing the governor as a man of “honesty and piety,” Tafidan-Gulumbe recalled how Idris had once acquired land in the area through legal channels, even purchasing a plot directly from him.

“He has always followed due process,” he added.

The ongoing land clearance, according to Tafidan-Gulumbe, has severely affected over 180 farmers in the community, leading to the destruction of crops worth more than ₦30 million, including millet, groundnuts, maize, and guinea corn.

“This rainy season, we had already planted crops worth more than ₦30 million. Now, all of it is at risk,” he lamented.

“As peace-loving citizens, we are calling on the Governor to help us safeguard our farmlands,” Tafidan-Gulumbe said. “We remain loyal to his administration and trust in his leadership.”

To prevent any escalation, Tafidan-Gulumbe revealed that the community plans to pursue resolution through legal and traditional means. Petitions, he said, would be submitted to security agencies, while reports would be filed with the Gulumbe District and the Emirate Council.

“We are also engaging our Ward Councilor and the member representing us in the State Assembly,” he noted. “This is to ensure that no one takes the law into their own hands.”