At least 332 farmers have been killed in attacks across the country since the beginning of the year.

The attacks which have been dominant in the northern parts of the country were carried out by bandits and Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists.

The number of farmers killed was counted based on news reports.

Some incidents include the deaths of 13 farmers caused by improvised explosive devices planted by Boko Haram in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on January 29.

In February, bandits killed six farmers and kidnapped 20 women at the Maganda Junction on Allawa-Pandogari Road in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Other incidents included the deaths of over 50 farmers in Wade, Plateau State, on May 21; 30 farmers killed in two farming communities in Zamfara State on May 11; and, at least, 17 farmers killed on May 29 in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

On June 11, over 50 farmers were killed by bandits in Kankara, Katsina State. Four farmers were killed on June 18 in Kaduna, while the Islamic extremists killed eight farmers on June 23 in Borno State.

Our correspondent observed that the number of farmers killed in 2024 increased significantly compared to the same period in 2023.

From January to June 2023, at least 128 farmers were killed.

This increase in farmer killings comes at a time when the country’s food inflation is high. The National Bureau of Statistics, in May, put the country’s food inflation rate at 44.66 per cent.

Also, the latest report from the International Rescue Committee said that around 16 per cent of Nigerians would face severe food insecurity or hunger between June and August this year.

As a result of these attacks, several farm produce worth billions of naira had been lost.

Apart from the killing and abduction of farmers, the farmers also faced threats by the bandits as they were forced to pay levies.

According to a report by SBM Intelligence, between November 2020 and November 2023, farmers across the North-West states were levied around N224.92m by different groups of bandits operating in the region.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, in a message to our correspondent, said the military high command had adjusted its operations to protect farmers.

Buba said, “Operational adjustments have been made to prioritise protection for farmers to ensure successful rainy season farming.”

Reacting to the move by the military, the National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Ibrahim, said It would help the country achieve food sufficiency.

He said, “This Is a welcome development as it will incentivise the farmers to work assiduously to attain food sufficiency in Nigeria, which will lead to the attainment of the much-desired food security.

“We view this development as the much-awaited state of emergency on insecurity which will consolidate the declared state of emergency on food security declared by Mr President. We say kudos to the military for this commendable declaration.” (The PUNCH)

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