Former Governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, spoke on Monday about how bandits made him abandon his 10,000 hectares of land in Kaduna State.
Speaking to newsmen on the high cost of foodstuff in the country, he said the people of Bafarawa usually seek permission from bandits before going to farm.
The politician told journalists that bandits were the ones who decided which farm to cultivate or not in his community.
“I used to have farmland that was over 10,000 hectares in Birni Gwari, Kaduna State. I have been cultivating that land since 1979, but I cannot reach it now because of the bandits.”
“The maize I produced at that time was in such commercial quantity that I used part of it for my flour mill, which is also out of production. The issue of insecurity is behind the high cost of food items because many farmers have been displaced.
“There was a time I warned the federal government about the impending food insecurity in the country but my advice was ignored,” he said
He called for genuine collaborative efforts between the federal government, state and the local government to tackle insecurity, particularly in the north. “The state governments cannot do it alone without the support of the federal government,” he said
On the general situation in the country, Bafarawa cautioned leaders on the need to wake up before it is too late to save the situation.
On whether he has quit active politics, he said he would remain in politics but would not hold any political appointments.
