Kaduna State Recovers 500,000 Hectares from Bandits

On 15 September 2026, the Kaduna State Government announced the recovery of more than 500,000 hectares of farmland from bandit control, enabling farmers to return to their fields after years of insecurity. Kaduna's Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, made this announcement during a Gala Night organized by the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel.

He explained that insecurity had previously hindered agricultural activities, with bandits controlling communities and preventing farmers from accessing their lands. The government implemented community-based security strategies and early warning mechanisms, which helped identify and contain 75 potential threats between 2023 and early 2026.

The improved security has allowed the state to increase its agricultural budget from ₦1.4 billion in 2023 to over ₦100 billion in 2026. Additionally, the government provided free fertilizer, boosting maize yields significantly.

Maiyaki also noted that improvements in rural transportation facilitated the movement of agricultural produce to markets, forming part of a broader government strategy encompassing agriculture, education, and healthcare.