Defence Headquarters, DHQs, has in its efforts to help fight food insecurity in the country deployed its troops to farmers across the Northern States. The troops have been specially deployed to the Northwest, and North Central regions in Nigeria.
According to DHQs the measure is to ensure a hitch-free farming season and tackle food insecurity and inflation in the country.
This was disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba on Wednesday.
According to Director, the deployment has enabled several farmers to have access to their farms.
He said, “With the commencement of the rainy season, troops are currently deployed in several parts of the northern States. They have been deployed particularly in the NW and NC States to protect farmers.
“The deployment has enabled several farmers’ access to their farm for a hitch-free planting season towards a bumper harvest.”
ISUIKWUATO VOICE recalls that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun also spoke in the same line. The IGP said the police had commenced patrols on farms to boost farmers’ confidence.
Egbetokun said, “In the Northeast, we have started farm patrol. This is to give confidence back to farmers to return to the farm. Mr. President is very, very concerned about it, and we are doing our best.
“But let me also add that the security landscape in Nigeria is complex and diverse.”
The Chairman of the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Ibrahim, confirmed to the development. He noted that security presence had increased in farms across the country.
This is coming on the heels of banditry, terrorists and criminals’ activities in the northern part of the country in the last six months.
Recall that hundreds of farmers have been killed and others kidnapped in the region in the first quarter of 2024.
According to SBM Intelligence, farmers in the North paid an estimated sum of N139 million as farm levies to bandits. This is even as the bandits demanded at least N224 million between 2020 and 2023.
National Bureau of Statistic June Data stated that food inflation in Nigeria rose to 40.87 percent.
source: Daily Post
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