Description
An activist and resident of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Bala Nuhu Kafanchan, has reportedly been arrested and detained after questioning the distribution of fertilizer provided by the Kaduna State Government to farmers in Jema’a Local Government Area on Facebook.
Nuhu was reportedly arrested on Wednesday night after he raised concerns over alleged discrepancies in the quality and quantity of fertilizer being distributed to farmers in the Kafanchan area.
A source who spoke to Sahara Reporters on Wednesday night, shortly after his arrest, said the activist was detained at the Kafanchan Area Command after the local government chairman, Peter Tanko, allegedly deployed security personnel to arrest him.
The source said Nuhu had posted photographs on his Facebook page comparing the fertilizer reportedly supplied by Governor Uba Sani for distribution to farmers with another batch allegedly being unloaded for distribution in the area.
“He posted it on his Facebook page. So, this night, the chairman of the local government just sent some policemen and arrested him. Now, he's being detained,” the source told Sahara Reporters.
The source identified the arrested man as “our brother, Bala Nuhu Kafanchan,” adding that he was being held at the Kafanchan Area Command.
According to the source, Nuhu's post was intended to draw the attention of the government and residents to alleged irregularities in the fertilizer distribution rather than to cause trouble.
“He just called on the attention of the government and the people of Jema'a Local Government. He just informed them, ‘This is what is happening. This is what the governor gave, and this is what people are receiving,’” the source said.
In the Facebook post that reportedly preceded his arrest, made available to Sahara Reporters, Nuhu questioned why the fertilizer being unloaded for farmers appeared different from the product he said was announced by the Kaduna State Government for distribution to 150,000 farmers across the state.
“There is no justice in the distribution of fertilizer in Jema'a Local Government Area,” the post began.
Nuhu also questioned whether the fertilizer allocated by the state government had been exhausted and, if so, why it was allegedly being replaced with what he described as old or substandard fertilizer.
“Our question is this: Has the allocated fertilizer stock been exhausted?” he asked.
“If it has indeed been exhausted, then in principle, it should not be replaced with old, substandard fertilizer,” he added.
He also alleged that some of the fertilizer supplied by Governor Sani remained stored in Kagoma town.
Nuhu further raised concerns about the distribution of trucks across communities in the area.
“Are you not aware that Kafanchan, Godogodo, and Jagindi Gidan Waya, which together have a total of 9 wards, received only 4 trucks?” he asked.
“On the other hand, Kagoma, which has only 3 wards, received 3 trucks?” he added.
The source who spoke to Sahara Reporters on condition of anonymity, alleged that the fertilizer being distributed to farmers was of a lower grade than the one purportedly supplied by the governor.
The source claimed that the difference in price between the two products was significant.
“So, when it comes to the distribution, they are just like changing the fertilizer into the one of lower grade,” the source said.
The source further alleged that the fertilizer allocated by the governor was worth about ₦60,000 per unit, while the alternative allegedly being distributed was purchased for about ₦25,000.
“They are buying the one of N25,000 and giving people, and the number of trucks were diverted,” the source alleged.
The source also accused the local government chairman of using security agencies to silence residents who criticize the administration.
“The chairman has been doing this to people,” the source alleged.
“Once you post something on bad governance or anything that the government refuses to do, he will just send security personnel, either civil defense or police, to arrest people,” the source said.
It was not immediately clear what offence Nuhu was accused of committing.
His reported detention came after he publicly called on political leaders in the Kafanchan area to intervene in the fertilizer distribution.
“We are not seeking conflict, we are not seeking insults or disrespect,” Nuhu said in the post.
“What we are seeking is JUSTICE, HONESTY, AND CLEAR TRANSPARENCY.”
He appealed to relevant authorities to explain the alleged discrepancies in the distribution so that residents could understand what was happening.
“We seek justice, not disrespect,” he said.
Nuhu's post also called on political leaders from the Kafanchan area to ensure that farmers receive the fertilizer allegedly allocated to them by the state government.
“We call on our leaders to stand up and ensure that the proper fertilizer is returned to the people of the Kafanchan area, so that it can be distributed to farmers with fairness and transparency,” he said.
He warned that distributing what he described as old fertilizer would deny farmers the benefit of the government's intervention.
Meanwhile, efforts made by Sahara Reporters to speak with the Jema’a Local Government Chairman, Peter Tanko, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls placed to his phone as of the time of filing this report.
Details
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State/CountryKaduna
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PerpetratorKafanchan Area Command Police
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Source
Location
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Kaduna, Nigeria
