Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Kaduna-based activist and resident of Kafanchan, Bala Nuhu Kafanchan, has been arrested and detained after posting a Facebook message questioning the quality and distribution of fertiliser allocated to farmers in Jema'a Local Government Area by the Kaduna State Government. Nuhu was reportedly picked up on the night of Wednesday, August 19, 2026, after the local government chairman allegedly deployed security personnel to arrest him. He is currently being held at the Kafanchan Area Command, according to a source who spoke to SaharaReporters.
The activist's post, which has since gone viral, exposed what he described as discrepancies between the fertiliser announced by the state government and the product actually being distributed to farmers in the Kafanchan area. In his Facebook message, Nuhu questioned why the fertiliser being unloaded for farmers appeared different from the product he said was supplied by Governor Uba Sani 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 raised concerns about whether the fertiliser 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 fertiliser. He questioned the distribution of trucks across communities, noting that Kafanchan, Godogodo, and Jagindi Gidan Waya, which together have nine wards, received only four trucks, while Kagoma, with only three wards, received three trucks. He further alleged that some of the fertiliser supplied by Governor Sani remained stored in Kagoma town.
A source who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity alleged that the fertiliser being distributed to farmers was of a lower grade than the one purportedly supplied by the governor, claiming that the difference in price between the two products was significant. The source claimed that the governor's fertiliser was worth about N60,000 per unit, while the alternative allegedly being distributed was purchased for about N25,000. "So, when it comes to the distribution, they are just like changing the fertiliser into the one of lower grade," the source said. The source further alleged that the number of trucks were diverted.
The source also accused the local government chairman, Peter Tanko, of using security agencies to silence residents who criticise 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 fertiliser 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 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 fertiliser allegedly allocated to them by the state government. He warned that distributing what he described as old fertiliser would deny farmers the benefit of the government's intervention. Efforts made by SaharaReporters 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.
The arrest of Bala Nuhu has raised concerns about the shrinking space for civic engagement and freedom of expression in Kaduna State, where activists and citizens who question government activities risk arbitrary detention. His case highlights the growing trend of using security agencies to silence critics, a practice that undermines democratic accountability and the rule of law. As the activist remains in custody, the question on everyone's lips is whether the government will address the concerns he raised or continue to treat dissent as a crime. For the farmers of Jema'a, the fertiliser distribution is not just a political issue; it is a matter of survival.
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