Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has banned farming in all cemeteries across the state, effective immediately. He made the announcement during a visit to a burial ground in Gusau, declaring that crop cultivation on such sacred sites would not be tolerated.
The governor ordered that crops already planted in cemeteries be removed at once. "Any person found farming inside a cemetery will have their crops destroyed immediately," he warned.
The directive covers all 14 local government areas in Zamfara State. According to Lawal, cemeteries hold sacred status as places meant to honour the memory of the dead and preserve their dignity.
He argued that using burial grounds for farming violates both cultural and religious principles. The governor tasked traditional rulers, community leaders and government agencies with enforcing the new policy and raising awareness among residents.
Monitoring teams will be deployed throughout the state to ensure full compliance with the ban. His office confirmed that the enforcement mechanism is already in place to check violations across all burial sites.
