Former Sokoto Governor Bafarawa Bemoans Bandit Activities, Food Crisis
Former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, has expressed deep concern over the rampant activities of bandits in the northern region of Nigeria. In a statement on Monday, Bafarawa disclosed how bandit attacks forced him to abandon his expansive 10,000-hectare farmland in Kaduna State.
Addressing journalists against the backdrop of soaring food prices in the country, Bafarawa highlighted the alarming trend where individuals now seek permission from bandits before venturing to their farms. He emphasized that bandits have usurped control over agricultural activities, dictating which farms can be cultivated in affected communities.
Recalling his own experience, Bafarawa lamented, “I used to have farmland, which is over 10,000 hectares in Birni Gwari of Kaduna State. I have been cultivating that land since 1979, but I cannot reach there now because of the bandits.” He further explained that the maize production from his farmland, once abundant for commercial use, has dwindled due to the insecurity caused by banditry.
The former governor underscored the correlation between insecurity and the escalating cost of food items, attributing the current food crisis to the displacement of numerous farmers by bandit attacks.
The impact of bandit activities on food security has become increasingly apparent, with March figures from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics revealing a staggering food inflation rate of 31.70%. Experts have described this situation as an emergency, with activities of bandits in the Northeast and Northwest regions exacerbating the food crisis.
Bafarawa also recalled warning the Federal Government about the looming food insecurity in the country, lamenting that his advice went unheeded. He called for urgent and genuine collaborative efforts between the federal, state, and local governments to effectively combat insecurity, particularly in the northern regions.
“The state governments cannot do it alone without the support of the Federal Government,” Bafarawa concluded, stressing the need for concerted action to address the pressing issue of banditry and its detrimental effects on agriculture and food security in Nigeria.
