Katsina Farmers Face Unprecedented Hardship From Bandits – NLC

The Katsina State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hussaini Hamisu Yanduna, said farmers in the state have suffered unimaginable hardship due to persistent armed banditry. He disclosed this during the 2025 Workers‘ Day celebrations held in Katsina.

Speaking on behalf of the organised labour at a colourful rally attended by dignitaries, including Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, Yanduna lamented the insecurity plaguing rural farming communities across the state.

He recalled a particularly harrowing incident in 2024 in Kankara, where nearly 50 people lost their lives and many others were abducted in a single attack.

According to him, such tragedies have become familiar, forcing farmers to abandon their lands, disrupting food production, and further fueling inflation.

„Farming communities have faced unprecedented hardship,“ Yanduna said to a packed crowd of workers, officials, and community leaders.

„The insecurity has led to abandoned farms, rising food prices, and has shaken the core of rural life.“

While acknowledging some progress made in security, especially through the establishment of the Community Watch Corps by the current administration, he emphasised that the crisis had inflicted deep wounds on the state‘s agricultural economy and its people.

He praised the deployment of over 2,000 youth to vulnerable areas and the provision of armoured vehicles, noting that these steps have begun to restore a sense of safety and hope.

The labour leader urged the federal government to intensify its support by reinforcing Katsina’s security architecture and ensuring farmers can return to their livelihoods without fear. He emphasised that no society can thrive without food security, regardless of development in other sectors.

Despite the grim reality, the May Day celebration also highlighted the state government‘s achievements in worker welfare and economic support.

However, Yanduna insisted that true development must be measured not just by infrastructure or policy but by the safety and prosperity of citizens, especially those who feed the nation.

He closed his remarks with a call for solidarity, urging workers, government, and communities to unite to reclaim their civic space and rebuild rural dwellers‘ confidence.

„The path forward demands courage, cooperation, and unwavering commitment to justice. When we reclaim our civic space, we reclaim our dignity, and when every farmer can go to the field without fear, then we can say we are truly progressing.“

While speaking, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda affirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the development of a productive workforce.

He reiterated that his government is working tirelessly to improve the working conditions of civil servants, as evidenced by the full implementation of the minimum wage, prompt payment of gratuities, and the settlement of pensions.

Governor Radda praised workers for their dedication to building the state and the nation, describing the labour force as the “backbone of national development” and “agents of change”.

He called on them to uphold the principles of discipline, fairness, and accountability in discharging their duties.

The May Day event ended with a renewed sense of unity among Katsina workers, many of whom expressed hope that their voices would continue to shape a more secure and equitable future.