Adamu Peters, Nasarawa State
Yasu Umar’s family had relied on their farmland in Adudu, Nasarawa State, for generations until 2021 when they were forcibly evicted. Adudu, nestled in the heart of Obi Local Government Area, an agrarian region in northern Nigeria known for its mineral wealth, has witnessed a troubling trend – the encroachment of mining operations onto fertile agricultural land.
Like many other farmers, Mr. Umar blames community leaders for supporting mining operators without fair compensation. “This land belonged to my family for almost four generations,” he laments. “I cultivated maize, cassava, and sesame and got bountiful harvests in years past. When the miners started coming into the community, it was a cause for concern for me and the other farmers.”
Frustrated and with no compensation, Mr. Umar turned to work as a driver to support his family. “It’s a completely different line of work, and the income is not as steady as when I was a farmer,” he says, his nostalgia palpable.
Some villagers corroborate Mr. Umar’s account, alleging that mine operators induced the community’s chief into taking their land and handing it over to mining firms.
Amali Ubangiri, CEO of Adudu Prospective Mining Ltd., insists his company adhered to regulations, contributing to local development. However, when questioned about compensation for displaced farmers, he admits they didn’t receive direct payments.
Community leaders and mining operators maintain they acted legally. The chief of Adudu, Abdullahi Hassan, asserts the land belongs to the community, and the decision to allocate it to the mining company was for the community’s benefit.
The plight of these farmers mirrors a broader issue in Nasarawa State, with similar cases reported in Toto and Agwatashi. While some farmers, like Mr. Abubakar in Agwatashi, have found new employment at mining sites, they yearn for their farming roots.
The situation raises concerns about food security in Nigeria, already grappling with insufficient food production. Dispossessing smallholder farmers of their land disrupts local food production, exacerbating food insecurity and poverty.
Nasarawa State government acknowledges the issue but emphasizes its role in creating awareness and mediating disputes, urging affected farmers to report injustices.
As mineral mining expands across Nigeria, the conflict between mining and agriculture threatens to deepen the country’s food crisis, affecting the most vulnerable populations.