A special committee of the Kano State House of Assembly has vowed to clamp down on land grabbers and reclaim government lands allegedly encroached upon across the state.

The committee chairman, Muhammad Butu-Butu, stated this on Thursday during an inspection of lands belonging to the Kano State Agricultural Development Authority and Kano State Agricultural Supply Company.

Mr Butu-Butu, the deputy speaker, said the committee was constituted following a motion of urgent public importance adopted by lawmakers.

He said the committee was mandated to investigate allegations of land encroachment and submit its findings and recommendations to the assembly.

“We have visited many places in the course of this assignment, and we have seen a lot of disturbing developments. It is disturbing because some people were trying to take over government properties without any concrete justification,” he said.

He noted that some individuals claimed the lands were allocated to them, while others occupied them without the consent of KASCO or KNARDA.

“Some were taken by local governments, while others were occupied by unknown persons. This is something that we cannot accept or condone,” Mr Butu-Butu explained.

Mr Butu-Butu said the committee would engage traditional institutions, security agencies and other stakeholders in the course of its assignment. He reiterated the Assembly’s determination to protect public assets and ensure that all encroached government lands were recovered.

The deputy speaker was accompanied by the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Ahmad Ibrahim-Karaye, and the member representing Kiru Constituency, Usman Abubakar-Tasiu.

Others were the committee secretary, Sabo Abdullahi-Ahmad, Ibrahim Yahaya, and the managing directors of KNARDA and KASCO, Faruk Kurawa and Kabiru Sani-Yakubu.

Areas visited included Kwankwasiyya City in Kumbotso council area, Karfi Store in Kura council area and Gwarmai Store in Bebeji council area.

The committee also inspected affected lands in Kadawa, Garun Malam local council, and Gundutse Plot in Kura local council.

(NAN)