Terrorists Threaten Kebbi Farmers: ‘Use Cattle or Face Death’

Farmers in Augie Local Government Area (LGA) of Kebbi State have come under threat from armed militants suspected to be part of the Lakurawa terrorist faction, who are reportedly ordering them to abandon mechanised farming methods and revert to the traditional use of cattle for cultivation.

As reported by Zagazola Makama, a known security intelligence analyst, the assailants warned that any farmer found operating mechanised equipment would be summarily executed. This disturbing ultimatum has sparked widespread fear and anxiety among residents in several communities already grappling with cattle theft and insecurity.

A resident of the area shared, “These terrorists are now in control of our farming decisions. They’ve banned the use of machines. If we use cattle, they confiscate them. Yet, we need farming both to feed our families and for commercial survival.”

Reports indicate that the threats have been confirmed as authentic by a reliable intelligence source, noting that several villages in Augie LGA have received these warnings. In response, concerned residents are urging the Nigerian government and military to swiftly intervene before the situation escalates further.

This region has experienced recurring terrorist attacks and a surge in cattle rustling, allegedly led by the same Lakurawa elements. In April 2025, no fewer than 13 community vigilante members lost their lives in Morai village, also within Augie LGA, during an ambush by armed assailants who attacked them while they were attempting to retrieve stolen livestock.

When approached for comments, Nafiu Abubakar, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), stated that investigations into the reported threats were underway.