In a bid to address the growing concerns of farmers in Imo State, the state’s House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling for increased security measures to protect farmers and their farms from criminal invasions. This followed a motion presented by Hon. Chisom Ojukwu,which aims to ensure the safety and well-being of farmers, who are essential to the state’s food security and economic development.
The motion emphasised the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy and the well-being of its people. Hon. Ojukwu highlighted the negative impact of criminal invasions on farmers, which has led to financial losses and food insecurity. He warned that if left unchecked, the situation could escalate into another dimension of security challenge.
To address this issue, the House urged the governor to direct the Ministry of Homeland Security to:
– Provide lasting solutions to ensure the security of farmers and their farms.
– Commence immediate profiling and registration of scavengers and farm produce buyers in the state.
– Intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance activities to identify and apprehend perpetrators of attacks on farmers.
The House Committee on Agriculture was also directed to convene a joint meeting with relevant agencies to brainstorm on strategies to address the issue. The motion received unanimous support from the members of the House, and the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, directed the Clerk to communicate the resolution to the governor.