Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Borno State — In the rural outskirts of north-eastern Nigeria, farmers face daily uncertainty as they attempt to cultivate their crops under the shadow of militant violence. Armed men in uniform, known as Agro Rangers, accompany villagers while they water vegetables and uproot weeds, providing a semblance of protection against attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
One of the farmers, Aisha Isa, 50, told our team that fear has become a constant companion. Having fled her home more than a decade ago, she now lives in temporary housing in Dalwa village. Despite the danger, she continues farming beans and maize to feed her family, often relying on the presence of security forces for safety.
“The risk is high, but we have to farm to survive,” she said. Many like her are transported daily from Maiduguri to their fields in convoys, yet even these precautions do not erase the threat of abduction or death by insurgents. Mustapha Musa, a father of ten, explained that he will not return to his native Konduga without guarantees of lasting security, citing past incidents of kidnapping and murder.
Since the insurgency began over 15 years ago, thousands have lost their lives and millions have been displaced. Research from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) indicates that attacks on farmers have more than doubled compared to 2024, making agricultural work increasingly perilous.
The Borno State government, led by the governor, is actively encouraging the reintegration of internally displaced persons into farming to restore food production. Yet international organisations like the International Crisis Group caution that this rapid relocation may place vulnerable communities in greater danger, as militants often exploit farmers to finance their operations.
Abba Mustapha Muhammed, who survived a three-day abduction along with nine other farmers, recounted the horrors of being held captive in the forest. He described meagre rations, no access to clean water, and the execution of a fellow captive who failed to meet ransom demands. “They are still out there, and yesterday more than ten people were abducted,” he said.
Despite the risks, Commander Mohammed Hassan Agalama of the Agro Rangers programme maintains that their presence deters many attacks during farming seasons. “We have not faced major incidents because our teams are fully deployed when needed,” he said, although he acknowledged that the 600-strong unit cannot cover all farmland in Maiduguri. James Bulus, NSCDC spokesperson, echoed this view, citing resource limitations but highlighting small gains in restoring normalcy for farmers.
Local farmers, however, express frustration. Baba Modu, who lost his nephew to Boko Haram, described the ongoing threat as a constant burden, preventing people from harvesting their crops even in times of scarcity. Adam Goni, chair of the Borno branch of the National Association of Sorghum Producers, shared similar concerns, noting that adjacent farms are abandoned due to killings and extortion, leaving farmers to take grave risks to access their land.
While authorities insist on gradual peacebuilding efforts, the affected communities remain anxious. Many argue that despite the presence of Agro Rangers, Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to outnumber and overpower local security in isolated incidents. The Nigerian military has yet to provide an official response regarding claims that farmers remain inadequately protected.
The precarious situation illustrates the intersection of food insecurity and ongoing insurgency in Borno, leaving civilians to balance survival with life-threatening risk. As international monitors warn, the pace of agricultural reintegration may inadvertently place vulnerable populations in harm’s way, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable security measures.
Reporting for Stone Reporter News, with key information credited to the BBC
📩 Stone Reporter News
🌍 stonereportersnews.com | ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reports | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments