Tension is mounting in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State after local farmers reportedly received threats from suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group, who have warned against the use of mechanised farming tools, insisting on the continued use of traditional, cattle-driven methods.
According to reports shared by prominent security analyst Zagazola Makama, the armed group issued chilling ultimatums across farming communities, declaring that any individual caught using tractors or other mechanised equipment would face execution. The threats, widely believed to be credible, have triggered fear and confusion among local residents, many of whom had recently embraced modern agricultural practices following frequent cases of cattle rustling in the region.
“Now, the terrorists are dictating how we should farm,” one distressed local was quoted as saying. “They forbid us from using machines. When we use cattle, they seize them. We’re farming both for survival and to earn a living.”
Community in Fear as Lakurawa Group Tightens Grip
An intelligence source confirmed that the warnings have been circulated across several villages in the local government area, suggesting a coordinated campaign by the armed group to control agricultural practices in the area. Residents say they are caught in an impossible dilemma: using cattle exposes them to theft, while using machines invites death threats.
This disturbing development follows a pattern of escalating violence attributed to the Lakurawa group. In April 2025, at least 13 local vigilantes were reportedly killed in Morai village, also in Augie LGA, during an ambush by suspected members of the group. The vigilantes had been attempting to retrieve stolen livestock when they were surrounded and gunned down.
Calls for Urgent Government and Military Intervention
Community leaders, farmers’ associations, and security advocates have since raised alarm, calling for swift intervention from the Nigerian military and federal authorities to prevent a total breakdown of safety and food production in the area.
“We cannot continue like this. Farmers are afraid to go to their fields, and the threats are not empty ones. We need the military to clear these terrorists out before planting season is completely ruined,” one local leader pleaded anonymously.
The threat also poses a major threat to food security, especially as Kebbi is one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural states, particularly in rice and millet production.
Police Respond
When reached for comment, Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, acknowledged awareness of the claims and stated that the matter would be thoroughly investigated. However, no official confirmation or statement has been issued as of press time.
Meanwhile, human rights advocates have urged the state and federal governments to prioritize protection for rural communities, warning that the continued rise of non-state armed groups in rural Nigeria is a threat not only to lives and livelihoods, but to national food supply chains and internal stability.
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