Farmers in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State have come under fresh threats from suspected terrorists, believed to be members of the Lakurawa group, warning them against adopting mechanised farming techniques.

According to security analyst, Zagazola Makama, the group issued a chilling ultimatum: any farmer found using machines instead of cattle for farming will be executed.

Residents say the warning has sparked widespread panic in the area, especially among farmers who had begun embracing modern agricultural tools to mitigate the losses from persistent cattle rustling.

A local source who spoke on the development with Daily Post said, “Now, the terrorists are dictating how we should farm.

“They forbid us from using machines. When we use cattle, they seize them. We’re farming both for sustenance and commercial purposes.”

The situation has left many farmers caught between deadly threats and economic survival, as using cattle puts them at risk of rustling while using machinery risks terrorist reprisals.

Security sources have verified the authenticity of the threat letters, which have reportedly been circulated across several villages in the Augie LGA.

An intelligence officer confirmed that the threats are being treated with urgency and that several communities are already living under high alert.

Augie LGA has been a repeated target of violence by the same terror group. In April 2025, at least 13 vigilantes were killed in Morai village during an ambush while attempting to recover rustled livestock.