Lol As FG Seems Unperturbed Over Unprecedented Bandits’ Attacks On Farmers, Despite Hunger Threat (OPINION) By Isaac Asabor

In a country where food security has become a significant concern, one would expect a robust response from the government in safeguarding the backbone of our food production; our farmers. Unfortunately, the recent surge in bandits’ attacks on farmers across Nigeria paints a grim picture of indifference and negligence. The situation has become so dire that it appears as though the Federal Government (FG) is standing on the sidelines, laughing out loud while the nation inches closer to a full-blown food crisis.

To paint a grim reality of the situation in this context, it is expedient to make reference to a report made by ReliefWeb , a humanitarian information portal under the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA), which few weeks ago reported thus:  “A relentless wave of attacks against farmers in Nigeria by armed groups is hindering critical food supplies and threatening to push the country deeper into a devastating hunger crisis this year, Save the Children said.

“Increased attacks against farmers across parts of the country are leading to displacement, market disruptions and loss of livelihoods. Armed groups killed more than 128 farmers and kidnapped 37 others across Nigeria between January and June 2023, according to the Nigerian Security Tracker. In June, 19 farmers were killed by non-state armed groups in Nigeria’s northern Borno State alone.

Without a doubt, Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which once thrived as the lifeblood of the economy, is now under severe threat.  Bandits have turned farmlands into battlegrounds, forcing farmers to abandon their crops and flee for their lives. The result is a drastic decline in food production, skyrocketing prices, and a looming hunger crisis that threatens the lives of millions of Nigerians. Despite these alarming developments, the response from the Federal Government has been lackluster at best.

Farmers in regions like the North West and North Central have borne the brunt of these relentless attacks. Many have been kidnapped, killed, or displaced, leaving their farmlands uncultivated. The ripple effect of this is not hard to imagine: a decrease in food supply, leading to inflation in food prices, which further exacerbates the already high cost of living. The question on the lips of many is simple: Why does it seem like the Federal Government is unperturbed by this escalating crisis?

In the face of such a crisis, one would expect the Federal Government to act swiftly and decisively. However, the reality is a deafening silence, punctuated only by occasional statements that offer little more than platitudes. The government’s apparent lack of urgency in addressing this issue is both baffling and infuriating. Farmers, who should be protected as national assets, are left to fend for themselves in the face of armed bandits who seem to operate with impunity.

The lack of concrete action from the government has led to a growing perception that the FG is either incapable of dealing with the crisis or simply does not care. This perception is reinforced by the government’s focus on other issues, while the agricultural sector, critical to national survival, burns.

The consequences of this negligence are already being felt across the country. Food prices have soared to unprecedented levels, making basic staples like rice, beans, and maize unaffordable for the average Nigerian. Hunger, which was once a distant threat, is now a harsh reality for millions of citizens.

The situation is even more disheartening when one considers that Nigeria has the potential to be self-sufficient in food production. With fertile land, favorable weather conditions, and a hardworking agricultural workforce, there is no reason why the country should be on the brink of a food crisis. Yet, the combination of insecurity and government inaction has brought us to this perilous point.

The Federal Government must wake up from its slumber and take decisive action to protect our farmers and secure our food supply. This is not the time for empty rhetoric or political gamesmanship. Concrete measures must be taken to ensure that farmers can work their lands without fear of attack. This includes bolstering security in rural areas, providing support to displaced farmers, and ensuring that those responsible for these heinous acts are brought to justice.

Moreover, the government must recognize that food security is a matter of national security. The current situation, if left unchecked, could lead to widespread hunger, social unrest, and further destabilization of the country. The time to act is now.

Without resort to campaign of calumny in this context, it is not a misnomer to opine that the Federal Government’s apparent indifference to the plight of farmers under siege by bandits is not just a failure of leadership; it is a tragedy unfolding in real-time. As hunger looms and food prices soar, the laughter in the halls of power becomes more and more disconnected from the reality on the ground. The government must stop laughing and start acting before it is too late. The future of our nation depends on it.