- Farms Turned War Zones, Hindering Food Production – AFAN
- Women Farmers Move in Groups to Avoid Attacks
- Federal Government Vows to Ensure Farmers’ Safety and Food Sufficiency
Emamuzo Iboma
The Nigerian government’s efforts to ensure food security are facing severe setbacks due to ongoing farmer-herder conflicts and renewed insurgent violence across rural areas. From late 2023 through mid-2025, at least 922 farmers and villagers have been murdered by insurgents in a series of brutal attacks, disrupting vital agricultural activities.
In May 2025, suspected Boko Haram or ISWAP militants brutally killed at least 23 farmers and fishermen in Malam Karanti village, Borno State. The victims were gathered and executed, with only one older man spared to alert others of the militant takeover of their ancestral land.
Earlier, in April 2025, Benue and Plateau States experienced a spike in violence, claiming over 150 lives and displacing thousands. Clashes between nomadic herders and settled farmers have fueled these conflicts, worsened by climate change and an influx of arms.
In March 2025, Niger State saw bandits kill 165 farmers, demanding ₦3 billion in levies, burning farms and extorting communities before allowing harvests. Similarly, December 2024 attacks in Plateau State’s Bokkos and Barkin Ladi LGAs resulted in approximately 200 deaths and over 500 injuries, mainly attributed to Fulani militias targeting rural communities.
Community members in Enugu State’s Eha-Amufu, in November 2024, mourned the loss of four farmers killed within 24 hours by suspected Fulani herdsmen, highlighting farmers’ vulnerability. In September 2024, over 50 Islamic State militants attacked Tarmuwa District in Yobe State, killing 130 villagers in retaliation for informing security forces about militant activities.
The violence isn’t new. In May 2023, herders attacked villages in Mangu, Plateau State, killing over 100 people, sparked by a dispute over destroyed banana plantations. Similar attacks in Kanam and Wase LGAs a year earlier resulted in over 150 deaths and about 70 kidnappings.
The House of Representatives reports that herder-farmer clashes have claimed approximately 60,000 lives since 2001, underscoring the conflict’s long-standing and deadly nature.
Commenting on the crisis, AFAN President Kabir Ibrahim expressed grave concern: “Our farms are now war zones. Farmers are afraid to cultivate their land, which hampers food production and threatens national food security. When farmers cannot work safely, the whole system suffers.”
He emphasised the need for accurate data on losses and displaced persons, warning that insecurity severely hampers Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
A member of SWOFON, who requested anonymity, shared that women farmers now farm in groups for safety, often close to each other, especially around Abuja. “We can’t farm alone; we’re vulnerable to attacks and even rape. We’re just trying to stay strong,” she lamented.
Another farmer, Muhammadu Saidu, revealed he has scaled down his farming and is now cultivating behind his house due to insecurity. “Many farmers have been killed, and the government’s efforts are insufficient. The situation is worse than reported,” he said.
Agricultural expert Abiodu Sodiq called on the government to ensure farmers against attacks, suggesting the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) should extend coverage to victims. “Insuring farmers would help sustain food production despite insecurity,” he urged.
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians of efforts to protect farmers and secure food supplies in response to rising violence. The Nigerian Armed Forces have pledged to intensify security measures, especially during the rainy season, to safeguard farmlands and restore peace.
Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, announced that military operations across flashpoints from May 8 to 15, 2025, aimed to rescue kidnapped victims, destroy terrorist camps, and protect communities. “Our troops are committed to defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of citizens,” he affirmed.
International efforts are also underway. The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, recently met with leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) to discuss addressing insecurity among pastoralist communities. The goal is to foster dialogue and find peaceful solutions to conflicts fueled by resource competition, climate change, and weak security infrastructure.
Experts highlight that climate change, resource scarcity, and an influx of weapons have intensified violence, with ethno-religious tensions adding a sectarian dimension. These conflicts threaten not only food security but also exacerbate humanitarian crises across Nigeria’s rural regions.
A comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach involving security reforms, conflict resolution, and sustainable resource management is urgently needed to restore peace and ensure Nigeria’s food future.
