The Kaduna State Government has announced the successful recovery of over 500,000 hectares of farmland previously seized and occupied by criminal bandits across the state. The significant breakthrough follows enhanced security strategies, targeted military operations, and comprehensive community-led intelligence frameworks instituted to restore stability in rural areas.

Disclosing the development during an official engagement, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, explained that armed groups had previously paralyzed local economies by occupying agricultural zones, imposing illegal taxes, dictating farming schedules, and harassing rural dwellers.

However, integrated security measures—combining armed interventions with early warning systems and active engagement with traditional, religious, and youth leaders—have effectively displaced the criminals and enabled displaced farmers to safely return to their ancestral lands.

According to the commissioner, the reclamation of agricultural land has provided a major boost to regional food security and rural livelihoods. To maximize the impact of the newly reclaimed farmlands, the state government expanded its agricultural budget from ₦1.4 billion in 2023 to over ₦100 billion in 2026.

This funding surge supported the free distribution of high-quality fertilizers and farming inputs, leading to a dramatic increase in crop yields—boosting average maize production from three bags per hectare to up to 22 bags.

Maiyaki underscored that restoring security serves as the foundational pillar for overall socioeconomic transformation. Along with agricultural recovery, improved road security has restored safe transit to local markets, while parallel state interventions have significantly reduced out-of-school children figures and expanded primary healthcare access, effectively rebuilding public trust and dignity in previously vulnerable communities.