Group warns of looming food crisis in Nigeria due to bandit attacks
A group of international human rights activists, Save the Children, has warned that Nigeria is facing a severe food crisis unless urgent measures are taken to protect farmers from armed bandits. The group said on Monday that the attacks on farmers by armed terrorists are disrupting food production and pushing the country into a deeper hunger crisis this year.
The group’s Country Director for Nigeria, Famari Barro, said in a statement that the climate crisis is also making the situation worse by causing extreme weather events that affect crop yields. He said that millions of children in the north of Nigeria are at risk of starvation as they do not have access to enough food. He said that the armed groups are committing brutal acts that drive up food prices and force more families into hunger.
Also, he called for urgent action to prioritise the needs of children and stop the violent attacks on farmers. He said that if nothing is done, the armed groups will continue to terrorise the country and cause more suffering.
The group cited data from the Nigerian Security Tracker, which showed that more than 128 farmers were killed and 37 others kidnapped across Nigeria between January and June 2023. The group said that these attacks have led to displacement, market disruptions and loss of livelihoods for many farmers.
The Pristinegist reported that Nigeria has declared a state of emergency on food insecurity to address the food shortages, stabilise the rising prices, and increase protection for farmers facing violence from armed groups.
Two weeks ago, a former Governor of Sokoto State and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, Attahiru Bafarawa, also expressed concern over the banditry in the North-West and North-East. He said that the banditry poses a serious threat to food security in Nigeria.
He urged the government of President Bola Tinubu to focus on food security rather than Z issues such as cabinet appointments, subsidies and the economy. Also, he warned that if security is not improved, the North will suffer from educational backwardness in the next 50 years.
He told The Pristinegist that many schools in Northern Nigeria have been closed because of banditry. He said that this is a disaster for education and development. Finally, he said that the government must act fast before it is too late.
