The plans of governments at various levels in Nigeria to give battle to food insecurity may suffer another set back. This is because, as farmers prepare for a new planting season a palpable anxiety hangs over Nigeria’s agricultural heartlands following a fresh wave of violent attacks by some criminal elements. This has cast a long shadow over the approaching planting season.
Farming communities and agricultural experts alike are sounding the alarm, warning that the escalating assaults by bandits and insurgents in key food-producing states – including Benue, Borno, Niger, Plateau, and Zamfara – could cripple this year’s agricultural output and trigger a severe food crisis in the coming year. The fear of non-state actors appears to compound the latent challenges of climate change and the slow pace of distribution of agricultural inputs. All this creates a haze of uncertainty for the nation’s food security.
Statistics have shown that there has been an increase in the loss of lives,cases of kidnapping on the farms and incessant burning of farmlands and villages. For instance, in February 2025, the HumAngle Security Tracker documented 175 cases of insecurity with the northwest region recording the highest of 48 cases followed by northcentral with 36, southwest, 31, northeast and southeast getting 23 each and 14 cases recorded in the southsouth region. Though northeast had 23 cases of security attacks, it recorded the highest fatalities of 192, while northwest followed with 177, northcentral had 139, leaving southwest with 68, southsouth, 48 and southeast recording 35. According to HumAngle, there were 20 cases of kidnapping across the country within that month.
The wounded farmers who escaped with their lives or those whose families had to pay humongous ransom to get freedom for them are logically too scared to return to their farms.
That is why there have been appeals to the government as the planting season approaches.
farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector are pleading with the authorities to save the situation. They are imploring both federal and state governments to prioritize the security of farming communities, ensure the timely delivery of essential agricultural inputs, and rehabilitate vital rural infrastructure.
Daniel Okafor, President of the Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria and Vice President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, emphasised the critical need for enhanced security, road repairs, financial grants, and the prompt distribution of farming resources. He stressed that equipping farmers with modern techniques, promoting mechanisation, and supporting climate change adaptation are crucial for achieving President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda. The recurring lament is the delayed arrival of government support, which farmers believe, if delivered promptly, could significantly boost yields and contribute to national food sufficiency.
In the face of these daunting challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called upon Nigerians to maintain hope, unity, and resilience. In his Easter message, he acknowledged the prevailing economic and security concerns, assuring the nation of brighter days ahead. Drawing parallels with Christ’s triumph over death, President Tinubu expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its current difficulties. He conveyed his deep sadness over the loss of life due to recent violence and reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to restoring peace and security, stating that he has directed the armed forces and security agencies to act decisively. While acknowledging the economic hardships faced by many, the President pointed to early signs of recovery and assured citizens of ongoing efforts to build a stable and inclusive economy. Despite the assurances from the highest office, the anxiety within Nigeria’s farming communities remains palpable, their livelihoods and the nation’s food security hanging in the balance as they await concrete action to secure their fields and futures.
