The Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Sa’idu Namaska, has appealed to bandits to cease fire and allow farmers to go to their farms as the 2021 farming season has begun.
The Emir expressed worry at the ceaseless attacks by bandits on the locales and farmers in Niger State in particular, and other parts of the country, noting resultant effects on food security.
The Emir said it is already evident that food is scarce as the 2020 farming season was affected by COVID-19 and insecurity, adding that if the insecurity continues and farmers are not allowed to go to their farms, the food situation in the country will be worsened.
The Emir, who was represented by the Niger State Chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Shehu Galadima, stated this during the Third Niger Wet Season Agricultural Inputs and Equipment Fair in Minna, the state capital.
He said: “Bandits, please allow us to farm. We need food, you also need food. If we farm, there will be food…Please, allow us to farm,” he appealed.
The Emir further called on the government to recruit more agro-rangers who will safeguard the farmers when they go to the farm.
The Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture Zakari Haliru Jikantoro assured farmers that the state government is doing its best to ensure the safety of every citizen in the state.
According to him, the tempo of banditry in the state has reduced because of the security strategies the government has deployed in recent times.
“You would notice that the government has put in place measures to ensure that the farmers will not be affected by this banditry or insecurity.”
0
0
