The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Nasarawa State government and security agencies, prohibiting them from arresting farmers or interfering with their rights while a legal dispute over the seizure of 10,000 hectares of farmland is resolved.
Justice Peter Lifu granted the order in response to a fundamental rights motion ex parte, filed by Sambo Vongjen Esq on behalf of his client, representing the affected farmers. The farmers allege that the
Nasarawa State government forcibly took their ancestral lands for
agricultural projects without compensation or alternative livelihood options.
The respondents in the case include the Nigerian Army, the Inspector General of Police, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, the Nasarawa State Governor, and the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture.
The dispute began after the Nasarawa State government announced agricultural projects on the seized lands, which are part of the federal government’s food security initiatives. On June 29, 2024, the government posted on Facebook that Governor Abdullahi Sule had inspected a section of the 10,000-hectare farm intended for rice production in Jangwa, Awe Local Government Area.
In the affidavit supporting the motion, Felix Upav Saaior, representing the affected Tiv communities, claimed that the government’s actions would displace the farmers and deprive them of their primary source of income. He described how, on June 10, 2024, government agents and security forces destroyed the farmers’ crops and farmlands.
The farmers argue that the compulsory acquisition of their land was conducted without proper legal process or public notice, violating their constitutional rights to property and freedom from discrimination. They fear permanent displacement and loss of livelihood due to the government’s actions.
During the court session on August 26, 2024, the farmers’ lawyer requested the court to grant the ex parte motion to temporarily prevent the respondents from arresting the farmers or taking further action against them. The court granted this request, offering temporary relief to the farmers while the case is ongoing.
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