Residents of Gulumbe village in the Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area of Kebbi State have issued an urgent appeal to Governor Nasir Idris, seeking his immediate intervention to stop the alleged forcible seizure of their arable lands.

A spokesperson for the community, Abubakar Tafidan-Gulumbe, made the appeal while addressing journalists in Gulumbe on Tuesday.

“For generations, we have farmed these lands, some inherited from our forefathers. Suddenly, a man named Mustapha Sani-Zauro appeared with heavy machinery and began clearing our farmland without prior notice or consent from our traditional leaders,” Tafidan-Gulumbe said.

He further alleged that when Sani-Zauro was confronted, he claimed he was acting on behalf of members of the Governor’s family.

“We reject this claim outright,” Tafidan-Gulumbe emphasized. “We are confident that Governor Idris, a man known for his integrity, would never endorse such illegal actions or allow his family to be involved in them.”

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Praising the governor’s character, he added, “Even before his time in office, Governor Idris had a reputation for honesty and piety.

“Whenever he needed land, he acquired it through legal means. In fact, he once purchased a plot directly from me.”

Tafidan-Gulumbe described the impact of the alleged land encroachment as devastating, affecting over 180 farmers and causing losses exceeding ₦30 million due to the destruction of crops such as 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.

In response to the crisis, the Gulumbe farming community is earnestly appealing to Governor Idris for protection and justice.

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

To prevent further unrest, he also announced the community’s plans to pursue legal and traditional channels for resolution.

“Our lawyers will submit formal petitions to security agencies, while the Gulumbe District will report the matter to the Emirate Council. This is to avoid any potential for farmers or youths to take the law into their own hands. We have also informed our Ward Councilor and the State Assembly representative,” he added.

The Kebbi government is yet to comment on the matter as of now.