President Bola Tinubu has been urged to set up a robust, nationwide security system focused exclusively on protecting Nigerian farmers.

Niger Delta leader and former National Head of Surveillance, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Prince Emmanuel Botu, also known as Olotu, made the call in an open letter to the President.

According to Botu, this system would provide a safety net for farmers, ensuring they can work without fear of attacks or disruptions.

He submitted that while agriculture has provided sustenance, employment, and livelihoods for millions of Nigerians, the sector has been plagued by an ‘escalating wave of insecurity, with farmers becoming prime targets for kidnappings, armed attacks, and other forms of violence’.

This development, he lamented, has resulted in a sharp decline in agricultural productivity, contributing to the ongoing food shortage and skyrocketing prices of basic food items.

“Farmers are essential to ensuring food availability and stability in the country. Yet, their inability to safely cultivate and harvest crops due to fear of violence has had a catastrophic effect on both local food supply chains and the broader economy.

“The shortage of agricultural produce directly impacts Nigerians at all levels, especially the most vulnerable in rural and urban areas, leading to inflation, hunger, and heightened poverty,” he said.

He proposed a five-pronged approach to tackle the issue head-on, including: deploying specialized security personnel to protect farming communities in vulnerable areas; installing drones and satellite surveillance to monitor rural farmlands and provide early warnings of threats to farmers; improved community policing; funding and incentives for farmers and partnering with the private sector to provide additional security infrastructure and incentivize businesses to protect farmlands.