The spate of insecurity in rural communities remains the single greatest threat to food production, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has said.

The monarch noted that until the government deploys a coordinated, decisive response to the security crises, a reduction in food imports or food prices will remain a forlorn hope.

Oba Owoade stated that no matter the agricultural policies announced by the authorities, the reality in rural communities is that insecurity has become the single greatest threat to food production.

According to a release issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Owoade remarked on Thursday while addressing participants at an interfaith prayer service.

The event had in attendance eminent personalities, a member of the Oyo traditional Council (Oyo Mesi), High Chief Asimiyu Atanda, village heads, religious leaders, community leaders, and a cross-section of residents.

Alaafin maintained that a nation where food producers in the rural communities must negotiate access to their fields with armed bandits cannot claim to be mindful of food security.

He observed that adequate security of lives and property is the foundation of any thriving society because it directly eliminates fear, protects human rights, and unlocks economic potential, adding that without the guarantee of safety, the basic pillars of a nation collapse.

He said: “Security is a sine qua non for societal progress. A secure environment encourages inter-communal collaboration and shared national identity.

“Kidnapping and rural insecurity severely cripple agricultural productivity by displacing rural farmers from their lands, disrupting local supply chains, and draining household incomes to pay ransoms.

“These threats escalate food inflation, collapse rural credit systems, and lead to widespread food scarcity in affected communities. Farmers are often forced to liquidate their assets, livestock, and capital to pay ransoms, leaving them with no funds to purchase seeds, fertilisers, or equipment.”

“The implication of all these is that insecurity in the country severely restricts local commerce, causing a devastating collapse of rural supply chains and agriculture, as armed bandits force farmers to abandon farmlands, resulting in massive food shortages and localised inflation.”

On the essence of the prayer service, Alaafin pointed out that praying for divine intervention serves as a powerful spiritual anchor in times of crisis, as it transcends human limitations, fortifies communities against insecurity, and fosters the necessary understanding to maintain peace and unity.

“Only a higher power can soften hardened hearts, turning enemies toward dialogue and mutual respect. Peace is more than the absence of war; it is a state of stability and well-being. Prayers empower those actively working on the front lines to negotiate and maintain harmony.

“Prayer invites God’s presence to establish justice, which is a biblical prerequisite for lasting peace, while unity is essential for communities and the nation to thrive.”

Oba Owoade further asserted that praying together for a common purpose bridges ethnic, tribal, and religious differences, aligning citizens under shared humanity. (The Nation)