Residents of Pankshin, Plateau State, have been urged to stop planting tall crops close to homes and along residential footpaths, amid concerns that overgrown farms are providing hiding places for criminals.

The Walin Ron of Pankshin Local Council, Bitrus Mangut, said the crops, including maize, guinea corn and millet, were obstructing visibility and making it difficult for residents, neighbourhood vigilantes and security operatives to detect suspicious movements.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, Mangut said Pankshin, traditionally known for its peaceful atmosphere, hospitality and hardworking people, was increasingly feeling the impact of insecurity affecting parts of Plateau State.

He expressed concern that residential areas, including the town centre and newly developed layouts, had become overgrown with crops planted close to windows, fences and footpaths.

According to him, the vegetation could provide cover for criminals to monitor residents during the day and launch attacks, including theft and kidnapping, at night.

“We have seen how criminals, kidnappers and thieves take advantage of ungoverned spaces to perpetrate evil. Today, one of those spaces is right inside our own compounds,” he said.

Mangut added that the overgrown farms had reduced visibility between neighbouring homes, making it harder for residents to notice when someone was in distress and for security patrols to monitor activities within residential streets.

He also raised concerns about the risks posed by reptiles and the fear of encountering unknown persons lurking in the vegetation, particularly at dusk.

The traditional leader, however, acknowledged that farming remained central to the community’s identity and livelihood, stressing that his appeal was aimed at balancing agricultural activities with public safety.

“Farming is our pride and our heritage; we are farmers. But there is farming for food, and there is farming that endangers life. No harvest is worth a human life,” he said.

Mangut appealed to the Pankshin Local Council to urgently issue an executive order and public announcement prohibiting the cultivation of crops taller than three feet in residential areas of Pankshin town and other densely populated communities.

He also urged the council to mobilise district heads, ward heads and youth leaders to sensitise residents and ensure compliance with any measures adopted.

He called for the environmental and security task forces to clear abandoned plots and overgrown spaces considered potential hiding places for criminals.

“Let Pankshin lead by example. Let us clear our surroundings so that we can see danger coming from afar. Security is everybody’s business. We cannot continue to give criminals free accommodation in the name of farming,” he said.

Mangut appealed to residents to support efforts to restore peace in the state, noting that community participation was necessary to complement the Plateau State Government’s security initiatives.

He urged the local council leadership to act promptly to prevent avoidable tragedies, expressing confidence that collective action could help protect life and property across Pankshin.