killing of peasant farmers in Borno worry lawmakers

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to establish a special taskforce dedicated to addressing security challenges in the Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Constituency of Borno State.

The House also called on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance activities in the constituency to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of attacks on farmers.

The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Ahmed Jaha.

The House said the taskforce should be given a mandate to protect the lives and property of farmers in the area.

The lawmakers further called on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance activities in the constituency to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of attacks on farmers.

Jaha in the motion decried the continuous killing of peasant farmers in the Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Constituency.

He noted the House cannot afford to overlook the constant attacks on the farmers, adding that the attacks not only result in loss of lives but also severely disrupt food production, leading to food scarcity, increased prices, and economic instability.

Jaha expressed worry that the persistent insecurity in the Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Constituency has created an environment of fear and uncertainty, discouraging farmers from cultivating their lands and leaving their farm produce unharvested.

The lawmaker said: “Acknowledging the efforts of the security agencies in combating insurgency and terrorism in our constituency, we must recognise that more needs to be done to provide a safe and reliable security environment for our farmers.

“The current security measures have proven inadequate in deterring attacks on innocent farmers, and it is high time we take decisive action to protect their lives and ensure their economic well-being.

“Realizing that the killing of peasant farmers goes beyond a local issue and has broader implications for national security, as it directly impacts our food production and the stability of our nation. It is imperative that we prioritize the safety of our farmers, who toil day and night to provide food for our nation, and create an enabling environment for them to carry out their agricultural activities without fear or hindrance