Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Communities across Kwara State are grappling with deepening anxiety and frustration as the joint security force serving the region has issued urgent warnings to farmers to avoid travelling to their farms, particularly in high‑risk areas, until the ongoing security situation is stabilised. The advisory, aimed at protecting lives, underscores a growing and persistent threat that is disrupting agricultural activities in one of Nigeria’s key farming states.
Security officials have emphasised that no farmer should go to the farm alone under any circumstances. Instead, they have urged that all movements to farmlands — especially those located in more isolated or vulnerable zones — be conducted in groups, coordinated with local vigilante networks and community security outfits. The guidance comes amid reports of increased criminal activity, including armed raids and kidnappings, in parts of the state that intersect farming corridors and rural routes.
Among the areas of particular concern is Kwara South, a region historically known as one of the state’s most productive agricultural zones. It is a major source of staple food crops and cash crops such as cashew, whose cultivation and harvest contribute significantly to household incomes and local economies. Yet this season, farmers find themselves in a distressing predicament: months of tending crops, investing time and resources, and enduring the rigours of cultivation are now jeopardised by an environment that is unsafe for them to access their fields.
The timing of the warning has compounded the sense of loss. It is cashew season, a peak period when farmers traditionally harvest, process and prepare the crop for market. Cashew trees — which require consistent care over an entire year — are now bearing fruit that farmers are unable to collect due to safety fears. For many families, cashew income supports schooling, food security and household needs; missing this window could translate into economic strain and hardship.
For rural producers, the situation feels particularly unfair: they have laboured for months under the often physically demanding conditions of farming, only to be locked out of their own lands at the moment of harvest. The emotional toll is evident in communities where farmers speak of disappointment, helplessness and fear for their families’ livelihoods. “You work all year for this moment — when it’s time to gather the fruit of your labour, you can’t even go near it,” said one farmer from Kwara South who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.
Local vigilante groups and community leaders have echoed the security force’s caution, acknowledging the palpable tension and widespread apprehension among farming households. They have called for enhanced patrols on key rural access routes, improved intelligence sharing between residents and formal security agencies, and the establishment of safe passage corridors that would allow groups of farmers to reach their farmlands without fear.
The disruption to agricultural activity has broader implications for the region. Kwara’s status as a food and cash crop hub means that disruptions in planting or harvesting seasons can have ripple effects on local markets, commodity prices, supply chains and food availability. Cashew — which contributes to both domestic consumption and trade — is but one example of a crop whose seasonal rhythm has been thrown into uncertainty.
In response to farmer concerns, some community organisations are organising coordinated movements, ensuring that groups of farmers travel together with security escorts where possible. Others are seeking dialogue with state authorities to request special arrangements, such as designated windows of protected access, community‑led patrols, and rapid response teams positioned near farmlands during peak farming hours.
Security analysts observing the situation have noted that rural insecurity often flares in zones where formal oversight is thin, and where armed groups or criminal networks exploit gaps in manpower and logistical support. They suggest that multi‑layered approaches — combining military, police, community vigilance and development interventions — are necessary to address underlying vulnerabilities and provide long‑term protection for agricultural communities.
The concerns of Kwara’s farmers reflect broader anxieties faced by rural producers across parts of Nigeria. Similar patterns of insecurity affecting access to farmland have been reported in other states, prompting calls from agricultural stakeholders for comprehensive strategies that incorporate safety, economic support, and community resilience measures.
For now, while the joint security force’s warning serves as an important safeguard for lives, it also underscores the profound frustration felt by farming communities who are left watching their crops from afar, unable to harvest the fruits of a year’s hard labour. As the state continues to navigate its security challenges, the urgent question remains: how can farmers be protected and supported to ensure that their vital contribution to food production and economic wellbeing is not further undermined?
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