Government intervenes in farmers, sand excavators’ unrest in Kano

The brewing conflict between farmers and sand excavators at Tasa village in Dawakin-Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State may soon be laid to rest following the intervention of the state government.

Through the office of the Special Adviser to Governor Abdullah Ganduje on Solid Minerals, Hajia Balaraba Ibrahim, efforts have set in motion to find a permanent solution to agitations of land encroachment, destruction of farm produce, and environmental degradation.

Tasa village is predominantly a farming community, endowed with fertile land to grow rice, maize, sorghum, and other crops. The community, some 20km away from the metropolis, enjoy the natural habitat of Kano Riverbank that flows from Challawa and channel through Wudil Local Government Area to Hadeija Jamaire in Jigawa State.

However, the river had recently been the cause of unresolved conflict between indigenous farmers and investors who excavated sand from the Tasa bank for commercial purposes. This got to a height after the farmers alleged that the investors acquired some hectares of land close to the river with the intention of expanding their business, a development that the farmers found inimical to their course.

Narrating the challenges mounted by the sand excavators, chairman of farmers in Tasa, Aminu Abubakar, told newsmen that farmers have lost millions of naira worth of farm produce and land to erosion because of the gravity of the excavating equipment.

Reacting to the development at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the instance of the Special Adviser on Solid Minerals, Hajia Balaraba Ibrahim, the Director, Personnel, and Management, Dawakin-Kudu Local Government Area, Rabiu Alhassan, blamed the investors for trampling on the right of the farmers without due compensation.

Although Rabiu explained the inability of the council to provide basic amenities like good roads and water in Tasa village, he accused the investors of evading payment of revenue due to the council. He also blamed the investors of neglecting their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to communities where they do business. 

But Faraq Balarabe, who spoke on behalf of the investors, debunked the allegations from farmers and council authorities just as he insisted that all due process were complied with while embarking on their business.