Yobe State curbed bomb-making fertilizers to combat insurgency

The Yobe State Government restricted the use of certain fertilizers capable of manufacturing improvised explosive devices during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency. Mohammed Goje, the Secretary to the State Government, stated in an interview that this policy, along with other security measures, aimed to deny terrorists access to bomb-making materials and protect returning communities while sustaining agricultural production. The restriction was necessary because insurgents were diverting some fertilizers for explosive device production. The government also discouraged the cultivation of tall crops in conflict-affected areas to prevent insurgents from using them for cover. Goje emphasized that these restrictions did not hinder farming activities, as the state introduced alternative technologies, modern farming practices, improved crop varieties, expanded mechanized farming, and deployed safer fertilizer alternatives that cannot be converted into explosive materials. The government complemented this policy with large-scale agricultural interventions to encourage displaced farmers to return to cultivation, making tractors more accessible through an electronic payment system and reducing hiring costs. These efforts, combined with improved security, safer agricultural inputs, and mechanized farming, have helped revive farming activities and enable displaced residents to return home and rebuild their livelihoods.